A person runs from the front to the back of an aircraft carrier at a velocity of 4.2 m/s. If the air craft carrier is moving forward at 20 m/s, how fast does the spy appear to be running when viewed by an observer on a nearby stationary observer?

(Choose the nearest answer)

15.8 m/s

80 m/s

2 m/s

20 - 4 = 16

enough, you do some

15.8 To find how fast the spy appears to be running when viewed by a stationary observer, we need to consider the relative velocities involved.

Let's break down the problem:

1. The spy is running from front to back of the aircraft carrier with a velocity of 4.2 m/s.
2. The aircraft carrier itself is moving forward at a velocity of 20 m/s.

When the spy is running from front to back of the aircraft carrier, their velocity relative to the stationary observer will be the vector sum of their own velocity (4.2 m/s) and the velocity of the aircraft carrier (20 m/s).

To find this resultant velocity, we add the two velocities together:

Resultant velocity = velocity of the spy + velocity of the aircraft carrier
Resultant velocity = 4.2 m/s + 20 m/s
Resultant velocity = 24.2 m/s

Therefore, when viewed by a nearby stationary observer, the spy will appear to be running at a speed of approximately 24.2 m/s.

However, we need to select the nearest answer from the options given:

15.8 m/s
80 m/s
2 m/s

Since 24.2 m/s is closest to 15.8 m/s, the answer is 15.8 m/s.