Car A is traveling at 84 km/h while Car B is traveling at 58 km/h. What is the relative velocity of Car A to Car B if they both are traveling in the same direction? What is the relative velocity of Car A to Car B if they are headed towards each other?
I will be happy to critique your thinking.
Velocity = displacement/time
Relative velocity = velocity with which a body approaches or recedes from another body
Would you add the speeds of both cars in order to find the relative velocity between the two when they are traveling in the same direction because the direction is the same? When they are traveling towards each other would you subtract the speeds because one direction is positive and the other is negative due to the direction being traveled?
Add them. When the objects are travelling in opposite directions the velocity of one relative to the other is the sum of their speeds, again taking due care to state the correct direction. So, 142 km/h.
To find the relative velocity of two objects, we need to consider their velocities and the direction in which they are moving.
1. Relative velocity of Car A to Car B when they are traveling in the same direction:
When two objects are moving in the same direction, we can find the relative velocity by subtracting the slower object's velocity from the faster object's velocity.
In this case, Car A is traveling at 84 km/h, and Car B is traveling at 58 km/h. Since Car A is faster, we subtract Car B's velocity from Car A's velocity to find the relative velocity:
Relative Velocity = Velocity of Car A - Velocity of Car B
Relative Velocity = 84 km/h - 58 km/h
Relative Velocity = 26 km/h
Therefore, the relative velocity of Car A to Car B when they are traveling in the same direction is 26 km/h.
2. Relative velocity of Car A to Car B when they are headed towards each other:
When two objects are moving towards each other, we can find the relative velocity by adding their velocities together.
In this case, Car A is traveling at 84 km/h, and Car B is traveling at 58 km/h. Since they are moving towards each other, we add their velocities to find the relative velocity:
Relative Velocity = Velocity of Car A + Velocity of Car B
Relative Velocity = 84 km/h + 58 km/h
Relative Velocity = 142 km/h
Therefore, the relative velocity of Car A to Car B when they are headed towards each other is 142 km/h.