Question

A man walks forward on a bus. To a stationary observer, the bus moves east at a speed of 18 m/s. If the man moves 1.5 m/s east relative to the bus, what is his velocity in the frame of reference of a stationary observer?

1) 18 m/s east
2) 16.5 m/s west
3) 19.5 m/s east
4) 16.5 m/s east

Answer 1

The man's velocity in the frame of reference of a stationary observer is 19.5 m/s east.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the man is moving forward on a bus that is moving east at a speed of 18 m/s. Relative to the bus, the man is moving east at a speed of 1.5 m/s. To determine his velocity in the frame of reference of a stationary observer, we need to add the velocities of the bus and the man.

The velocity of the man in the frame of reference of a stationary observer is the sum of the velocities of the bus and the man. Since they are both moving in the same direction (east), we can simply add their speeds.

Therefore, the man's velocity in the frame of reference of a stationary observer is 18 m/s + 1.5 m/s = 19.5 m/s east.