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Relative Velocity Equation:
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Relative velocity is the velocity of an object or observer B in the rest frame of another object or observer A. In one-dimensional motion, it's calculated as the difference between the velocities of two objects moving along the same straight line.
The calculator uses the relative velocity equation:
Where:
Explanation: The relative velocity represents how fast one object is moving relative to another. A positive result means object 1 is moving faster than object 2 in the positive direction.
Details: Relative velocity is crucial in physics for analyzing motion, collision scenarios, navigation systems, and understanding how objects move relative to each other in various reference frames.
Tips: Enter both velocities in meters per second (m/s). The calculator will compute the relative velocity, which can be positive or negative depending on the direction of motion.
Q1: What does a negative relative velocity mean?
A: A negative relative velocity indicates that object 1 is moving slower than object 2, or in the opposite direction relative to object 2's motion.
Q2: How is relative velocity different in two or three dimensions?
A: In multiple dimensions, relative velocity becomes a vector quantity calculated using vector subtraction rather than simple scalar subtraction.
Q3: Can relative velocity be greater than the speed of light?
A: In classical mechanics, yes. But in relativistic scenarios, relative velocities cannot exceed the speed of light according to Einstein's theory of relativity.
Q4: How is relative velocity used in real-world applications?
A: It's used in air traffic control, satellite navigation, collision avoidance systems, and analyzing motion in various reference frames.
Q5: What's the difference between relative velocity and closing speed?
A: Closing speed is the magnitude of relative velocity when two objects are approaching each other, always a positive value representing how fast the distance between them is decreasing.