A passenger in a moving car and a passerby standing at the road side see each other as moving in the opposite direction. Which of the following is not true?<
(A) The passenger is in motion relative to the passer-by
(B) The passer-by is stationery relative to the passenger
(C) Both observers are in motion relative to each other
(D) The passer-by is in motion relative to the passenger
B is most definitely not true. The problem states: a passenger..and passerby see each other moving. How then can B be true?
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the concept of relative motion.
Relative motion describes the motion of an object with respect to another object or observer. When two objects are in motion relative to each other, their motion is measured relative to each other rather than to the fixed background.
In this scenario, we have a passenger in a moving car and a passerby standing at the roadside.
(A) The passenger is in motion relative to the passer-by: This statement is true because from the perspective of the passerby, the passenger in the car appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
(B) The passer-by is stationary relative to the passenger: This statement is not true because if the passenger in the car sees the passerby moving in the opposite direction, then from the perspective of the passenger, the passerby is not stationary but appears to be moving.
(C) Both observers are in motion relative to each other: This statement is true because both the passenger and the passerby observe each other as moving.
(D) The passer-by is in motion relative to the passenger: This statement is not true if we consider the scenario correctly. The passerby appears to be stationary relative to the passenger, not in motion.
Based on this analysis, the correct answer is (D) The passer-by is in motion relative to the passenger.