Closest approach when exact intercept not possible

Given a fixed speed that is insufficient for exact interception, find the course/direction that brings one object as close as possible to another, and determine that minimum distance.

14 questions · Standard +0.9

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AQA M3 2012 June Q6
14 marks Standard +0.3
6 At noon, two ships, \(A\) and \(B\), are a distance of 12 km apart, with \(B\) on a bearing of \(065 ^ { \circ }\) from \(A\). The ship \(B\) travels due north at a constant speed of \(10 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). The ship \(A\) travels at a constant speed of \(18 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{a90a2de3-5cc0-4e87-b29a-2562f86eee17-16_492_585_445_738}
  1. Find the direction in which \(A\) should travel in order to intercept \(B\). Give your answer as a bearing.
  2. In fact, the ship \(A\) actually travels on a bearing of \(065 ^ { \circ }\).
    1. Find the distance between the ships when they are closest together.
    2. Find the time when the ships are closest together.
AQA M3 2013 June Q7
14 marks Challenging +1.2
7 From an aircraft \(A\), a helicopter \(H\) is observed 20 km away on a bearing of \(120 ^ { \circ }\). The helicopter \(H\) is travelling horizontally with a constant speed \(240 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) on a bearing of \(340 ^ { \circ }\). The aircraft \(A\) is travelling with constant speed \(v _ { A } \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) in a straight line and at the same altitude as \(H\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{3a1726d9-1b0c-41de-8b43-56019e18aac1-18_774_801_504_607}
  1. Given that \(v _ { A } = 200\) :
    1. find a bearing, to one decimal place, on which \(A\) could travel in order to intercept \(H\);
    2. find the time, in minutes, that it would take \(A\) to intercept \(H\) on this bearing.
  2. Given that \(v _ { A } = 150\), find the bearing on which \(A\) should travel in order to approach \(H\) as closely as possible. Give your answer to one decimal place.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{3a1726d9-1b0c-41de-8b43-56019e18aac1-20_2253_1691_221_153}
Edexcel M4 2003 June Q2
8 marks Standard +0.3
2. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{47e1d96b-4582-4324-a946-66989a2c66fc-2_455_1084_1112_487}
\end{figure} A man, who rows at a speed \(v\) through still water, rows across a river which flows at a speed \(u\). The man sets off from the point \(A\) on one bank and wishes to land at the point \(B\) on the opposite bank, where \(A B\) is perpendicular to both banks, as shown in Fig. 1.
  1. Show that, for this to be possible, \(v > u\). Given that \(v < u\) and that he rows from \(A\) so as to reach a point \(C\), on the opposite bank, which is as close to \(B\) as possible,
  2. find, in terms of \(u\) and \(v\), the ratio of \(B C\) to the width of the river.
    (5)
Edexcel M4 2004 June Q3
11 marks Standard +0.8
3. At noon, two boats \(A\) and \(B\) are 6 km apart with \(A\) due east of \(B\). Boat \(B\) is moving due north at a constant speed of \(13 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). Boat \(A\) is moving with constant speed \(12 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) and sets a course so as to pass as close as possible to boat \(B\). Find
  1. the direction of motion of \(A\), giving your answer as a bearing,
  2. the time when the boats are closest,
  3. the shortest distance between the boats.
Edexcel M4 2009 June Q3
12 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. At noon a motorboat \(P\) is 2 km north-west of another motorboat \(Q\). The motorboat \(P\) is moving due south at \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The motorboat \(Q\) is pursuing motorboat \(P\) at a speed of \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and sets a course in order to get as close to motorboat \(P\) as possible.
    1. Find the course set by \(Q\), giving your answer as a bearing to the nearest degree.
    2. Find the shortest distance between \(P\) and \(Q\).
    3. Find the distance travelled by \(Q\) from its position at noon to the point of closest approach.
    \section*{June 2009}
Edexcel M4 2010 June Q3
10 marks Standard +0.8
  1. At 12 noon, \(\operatorname { ship } A\) is 8 km due west of \(\operatorname { ship } B\). Ship \(A\) is moving due north at a constant speed of \(10 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). Ship \(B\) is moving at a constant speed of \(6 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) on a bearing so that it passes as close to \(A\) as possible.
    1. Find the bearing on which ship \(B\) moves.
    2. Find the shortest distance between the two ships.
    3. Find the time when the two ships are closest.
Edexcel M4 2013 June Q4
10 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. At 10 a.m. two walkers \(A\) and \(B\) are 4 km apart with \(A\) due north of \(B\). Walker \(A\) is moving due east at a constant speed of \(6 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). Walker \(B\) is moving with constant speed \(5 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) and walks in the straight line which allows him to pass as close as possible to \(A\).
Find
  1. the direction of motion of \(B\), giving your answer as a bearing,
  2. the least distance between \(A\) and \(B\),
  3. the time when the distance between \(A\) and \(B\) is least.
OCR M4 2003 June Q4
8 marks Standard +0.8
4 A cruise ship \(C\) is sailing due north at a constant speed of \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). A boat \(B\), initially 2000 m due west of \(C\), sails with constant speed \(11 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) on a straight line course which takes it as close as possible to \(C\).
  1. Find the bearing of the direction in which \(B\) sails.
  2. Find the shortest distance between \(B\) and \(C\) in the subsequent motion.
OCR M4 2005 June Q4
8 marks Challenging +1.2
4 A boat \(A\) has constant velocity \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in the direction with bearing \(110 ^ { \circ }\). A boat \(B\), which is initially 250 m due south of \(A\), moves with constant speed \(6 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in the direction which takes it as close as possible to \(A\).
  1. Find the bearing of the direction in which \(B\) moves.
  2. Find the shortest distance between \(A\) and \(B\) in the subsequent motion.
OCR M4 2010 June Q4
10 marks Challenging +1.3
4 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ea62d6d9-ac2f-44e7-8bfb-ae9aeea7109b-2_688_777_1382_683} From a boat \(B\), a cruiser \(C\) is observed 3500 m away on a bearing of \(040 ^ { \circ }\). The cruiser \(C\) is travelling with constant speed \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) along a straight line course with bearing \(110 ^ { \circ }\) (see diagram). The boat \(B\) travels with constant speed \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) on a straight line course which takes it as close as possible to the cruiser \(C\).
  1. Show that the bearing of the course of \(B\) is \(073 ^ { \circ }\), correct to the nearest degree.
  2. Find the magnitude and the bearing of the velocity of \(C\) relative to \(B\).
  3. Find the shortest distance between \(B\) and \(C\) in the subsequent motion.
OCR M4 2012 June Q3
10 marks Challenging +1.2
3 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ab760a4b-e0ec-4256-838f-ed6c762ff18b-2_460_388_1160_826} A ship \(S\) is travelling with constant velocity \(15 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) on a course with bearing \(120 ^ { \circ }\). A patrol boat \(B\) observes the ship when \(S\) is due north of \(B\). The patrol boat \(B\) then moves with constant speed \(V \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) in a straight line (see diagram).
  1. Given that \(V = 18\), find the bearing of the course of \(B\) such that \(B\) intercepts \(S\).
  2. Given instead that \(V = 9\), find the bearing of the course of \(B\) such that \(B\) passes as close as possible to \(S\).
  3. Find the smallest value of \(V\) for which it is possible for \(B\) to intercept \(S\).
OCR M4 2015 June Q3
11 marks Standard +0.8
3 Two planes, \(A\) and \(B\), flying at the same altitude, are participating in an air show. Initially the planes are 400 m apart and plane \(B\) is on a bearing of \(130 ^ { \circ }\) from plane \(A\). Plane \(A\) is moving due south with a constant speed of \(75 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\). Plane \(B\) is moving at a constant speed of \(40 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) and has set a course to get as close as possible to \(A\).
  1. Find the bearing of the course set by \(B\) and the shortest distance between the two planes in the subsequent motion.
  2. Find the total distance travelled by \(A\) and \(B\) from the instant when they are initially 400 m apart to the point of their closest approach.
Edexcel M4 Q3
10 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. At noon a motorboat \(P\) is 2 km north-west of another motorboat \(Q\). The motorboat \(P\) is moving due south at \(20 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The motorboat \(Q\) is pursuing motorboat \(P\) at a speed of \(12 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and sets a course in order to get as close to motorboat \(P\) as possible.
    1. Find the course set by \(Q\), giving your answer as a bearing to the nearest degree.
    2. Find the shortest distance between \(P\) and \(Q\).
    3. Find the distance travelled by \(Q\) from its position at noon to the point of closest approach.
Edexcel M4 2005 June Q2
5 marks Standard +0.3
A cyclist \(P\) is cycling due north at a constant speed of 20 km h\(^{-1}\). At 12 noon another cyclist \(Q\) is due west of \(P\). The speed of \(Q\) is constant at 10 km h\(^{-1}\). Find the course which \(Q\) should set in order to pass as close to \(P\) as possible, giving your answer as a bearing. [5]