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CATQuant:SolvingCircularMotionProblems

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CAT Quant: Solving Circular Motion Problems

19 Jul, 2013

(Photo: Brkur Sigurbjrnsson)

A common question template in the Time, Speed and Distance topic of the quantitative ability
section in the Common Admission Test CAT is based on two or three objects moving around a
circular track. Let us assume that the objects have speeds 'a', 'b' and 'c' and are moving on a track
of length 'L'. Given below is a set of formulae that can be used for solving such questions. I have
assumed that a > b > c.

These formulae use the concepts of relative speed.

Case 1 & 3 When two bodies are moving in the same direction, their relative speed is ab.
Case 2 When two bodies are moving in opposite direction or towards each other, their relative
speed is a + b.
Meeting at the starting point depends on when a particular body comes back at the starting
point and not on the direction.
For complex cases, like two bodies are moving clockwise and one is anticlockwise, just use the
concept of relative distance / relative speed.
Number of distinct points at which they the bodies in circular motion will meet can be
determined by finding out the reduced ratios of their speeds a:b.
If they are moving in the same direction, then they will meet at a b distinct points on the track.
If they are moving in opposite directions, they will meet at a + b distinct points on the track.
All these points will be equidistant from each other and will include the starting point.
For example,
if two bodiesSearch
are moving
at speeds
of 9more..
m/sec and 15 m/sec, the ratio of
theUp
speeds
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is 3:5. They will meet at 5 3 = 2 distinct points when moving in same direction and 5 + 3 = 8
distinct points in opposite direction.
If there are three bodies in motion then to find out the number of distinct points on the track at
which they will meet, you will first need to find out pairwise distinct meeting points. The overall
answer will be the Highest Common Factor of the pairwise values. Example: suppose A, B and C
are running with speeds of 5, 7 and 11 on a circular track. A and B are running clockwise, whereas
C is running anticlockwise.
A and B will have 7 5 = 2 distinct meeting points.
A and C will have 5 + 11 = 16 distinct meeting points.
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B and C will have 7 + 11 = 18 distinct meeting points.

A, B and C will have HCF 2, 16, 18 = 2 distinct meeting points.
I hope that in this post I have covered most of the type of circular motion problems which get
asked and using the above ideas and concepts you will be able to solve such problems easily in
future.
Ravi Handa has taught Quantitative Aptitude at various coaching institutes for seven years. An
alumnus of IIT Kharagpur where he studied a dualdegree in computer science, he currently runs an
online CAT 2015 coaching course and the website Handa Ka Funda.

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Paul Inder@Paul0809 17 Mar, 2014
It is mentioned that the starting point is included.suppose , speed of a is 2km/hr and b is 1 km/hr. on a
circular track they will meet twice one at the final meeting point which is the same as starting point
after a has completed two roundsor b ...
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Paul Inder@Paul0809 17 Mar, 2014
this illustration is kinda wrong i guess in the case when both are travelling in the same direction.

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