Sniper and Moving Target#

A sniper has been ordered a hit on a dangerous criminal. It has been determined that the fugitive is being transported on a train and is seated in carriage B. The sniper plans to shoot during the time the train spends on the curve.

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Part 1#

If the train moves with a constant speed of \(v\_{train} = {{ params.v_t }}\ \rm{m/s}\) on the curve what is the angle \(\theta\) measured relative to the horizontal that the sniper has to aim to hit the criminal?
Assume the bullet and train are on the same plane and neglect any resistive forces.
\(v\_{bullet} = {{ params.v_b }}\ \rm{m/s}\), \(R = {{ params_r }}\ \rm{m}\)

Answer Section#

Please enter in the angle in degrees.

Part 2#

The sniper is not informed of the exact position and seating arrangement of the criminal in carriage B. If the position and line of sight of the criminal is as in the figure below, can the criminal see the trajectory of the bullet, allowing him to escape?

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Assume the criminal can only rotate his head a maximum of \(90^{\circ}\) clockwise from his line of sight. Also assume his line of sight is collinear with the velocity of the train.
Assume the criminal has “laser vision in his line of sight”.
Use the angle calculated in the previous part of this question for \(\theta\).

Hint: Start by calculating the relative velocity of the bullet to the criminal.

Answer Section#

  • True

  • False

Part 3#

If the criminal is, however, in the opposite seat, can the criminal see the trajectory of the bullet, allowing him to escape?

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Assume the criminal can only rotate his head a maximum of \(90^{\circ}\) anti-clockwise from his line of sight. Also assume his line of sight is collinear with the velocity of the train.

Answer Section#

  • True

  • False

Attribution#

Problem is licensed under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
The Creative Commons 4.0 license requiring attribution-BY, non-commercial-NC, and share-alike-SA license.