Chapter 6, Problem 64A

To determine

To Discuss: Car travelling in opposite direction looks faster.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

All motions are relative in nature. It depends on frame of reference. Frame of reference is place from where the motion is observed.

For example: If the wings of an airplane are watched from ground, it seems to be in motion. But, when it is watched from inside the airplane, it seems to be at rest. This is because the observer is in different frame both time.

Since in the problem both the carsare travelling in opposite direction, an observer from the ground observes that both cars are travelling near the speed limit.

But, for an observer sitting inside one car, the other car seems to come at higher speed because of the relative velocity.

Its magnitude will be the sum of magnitudes of the both car’s velocities.