Question

1. Car A is heading East at 25 m/s and car B is also heading East at 25 m/s. What is the relative velocity between car A

and car B? How would the passenger in Car A describe Car B's motion

Answer 1

The relative velocity between two cars traveling in the same direction at the same speed is 0 m/s, hence a passenger in one car would perceive the other car as stationary relative to them.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relative velocity between car A and car B is the velocity of one object as observed from the other. In this scenario, since both cars have the same speed and direction (East at 25 m/s), the relative velocity between them is 0 m/s. Therefore, a passenger in Car A would describe Car B's motion as stationary relative to their car - it doesn't appear to be moving forwards or backwards.

Answer 2

The relative velocity between Car A and Car B is 0 m/s

Since Car A is heading East at 25 m/s, its velocity is u = + 25 m/s. (since it is moving in the positive x- direction)

Also, car B is also heading East at 25 m/s, its velocity is v = + 25 m/s. (since it is moving in the positive x- direction)

So, the relative velocity between car A and Car B is V = velocity of car A - velocity of car B.

So, V = u - v

V = + 25 m/s - (+ 25 m/s)

V = + 25 m/s - 25 m/s

V = 0 m/s

So, the relative velocity between Car A and Car B is 0 m/s

The passenger in Car A would describe Car B's motion as stationary.

Since Car A is heading East at 25 m/s and car B is also heading East at 25 m/s, both cars are moving at a velocity of + 25 m/s.

Since their relative velocity is 0 m/s, it would appear to a passenger in Car A that car B is stationary according to motion from car A's reference frame.

So, the passenger in Car A would describe Car B's motion as stationary.