Question

A farmer is walking through a field at a velocity of +0.5 meters per second (m/s) relative to the ground. At the same time, he is throwing seeds in front of him at a velocity of +2.1 m/s relative to himself. What is the velocity of the seeds relative to the ground as they travel through the air?

Answer 1

The velocity of the seeds relative to the ground as they travel through the air is 2.6 meters per second.

Step-by-step explanation:

From Physics, we know that the absolute velocity of the seeds (
`v_(S)`) is the sum of the absolute velocity of the farmer (
`v_(F)`) and the velocity of the seeds relative to the farmer (
`v_(S/F)`), all measured in meters per second. That is:

`v_(S) = v_(F)+v_(S/F)` (1)

If we know that
`v_(F) = 0.5\,(m)/(s)` and
`v_(S/F) = 2.1\,(m)/(s)`, then the velocity of the seeds relative to the ground is:

`v_(S) =0.5\,(m)/(s) + 2.1\,(m)/(s)`

`v_(S) = 2.6\,(m)/(s)`

The velocity of the seeds relative to the ground as they travel through the air is 2.6 meters per second.