Velocity is Relative


Relative Motion of 2 Moving Frames

As Jill continues to throw 30mph cookies at Jack, the bus drives by Jack's mom on a bicycle. She is riding 10mph in the same direction as the bus is traveling 25mph.  From her frame of reference, Jack seems to only be going 15mph (25mph - 10mph) and she sees the tossed cookies going 45mph (15mph + 30mph)

 
Relative motion between 2 moving frames in opposite directions

As the cookie tossing between Jack and Jill continues, A car drives by going 40mph in the other direction.  The observer in the car sees Jack going 65mph (40mph + 25mph).  The observer then notices the flying cookies to be traveling a whopping 95 mph! (40mph + 25mph +30mph)

Previous

Index

©1999 Science Joy Wagon