Question

Quin walks with a velocity of 1.6 m/s east. She does so while riding on a conveyor belt that moves at a velocity of 0.3 m/s west. What is Quin's velocity?

Answer 1

Quin's velocity is given by the resultant of the two velocities. If we assume east as positive direction, the two velocitiies are:

`v_q =+1.6 m/s` is Quin's velocity in his reference frame

`v_b=-0.3 m/s` is the belt velocity (with a negative sign since it is due west)

Therefore, the resultant is

`v_T=v_q+v_b=+1.6 m/s-0.3 m/s=+1.3 m/s`
and the sign tells us the velocity is due east.