Question

A red car is traveling east on a straight road at 32 km/h. A blue car is traveling down the same road headed west towards the red car at 45 km/h. How fast is the red car going relative to the blue car?

A) 13 km/h
B) 77 km/h
C) 32 km/h
D) 45 km/h

Answer 1

The relative velocity between the red car and the blue car is 77 km/h.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relative velocity between the red car and the blue car will be the difference between their individual velocities. Since they are traveling in opposite directions, we subtract the velocity of the blue car from the velocity of the red car:

Relative velocity = Velocity of red car - Velocity of blue car

Relative velocity = 32 km/h - (-45 km/h)

Relative velocity = 32 km/h + 45 km/h

Relative velocity = 77 km/h

Therefore, the red car is traveling 77 km/h faster than the blue car.