A spy runs from the front to the back of an
aircraft carrier at a velocity of 3.4 m/s. The
aircraft carrier is moving forward at 15.0 m/s.
How fast does the spy appear to be running when viewed by an observer on a nearby
stationary submarine (forward is positive)?
Answer in units of m/s.
To find the apparent velocity of the spy as viewed by the observer on the submarine, we need to consider the relative velocities.
The velocity of the spy relative to the submarine observer is the difference between their velocities.
Given:
Velocity of the spy relative to the aircraft carrier = 3.4 m/s (forward)
Velocity of the aircraft carrier = 15.0 m/s (forward)
To find the apparent velocity of the spy, we calculate the relative velocity by subtracting the velocity of the aircraft carrier from the velocity of the spy.
Relative velocity = velocity of the spy - velocity of the aircraft carrier
Relative velocity = 3.4 m/s (forward) - 15.0 m/s (forward)
= -11.6 m/s (backward)
The negative sign indicates that the spy appears to be running in the opposite direction of the aircraft carrier.
Therefore, the apparent velocity of the spy as viewed by the observer on the submarine is 11.6 m/s (backward).
To solve this problem, we need to use the concept of relative velocity, which is the velocity of an object as observed from a different reference point.
In this scenario, there are two velocities involved: the velocity of the spy running on the aircraft carrier and the velocity of the aircraft carrier itself. The spy has a velocity of 3.4 m/s relative to the carrier, and the carrier is moving forward at 15.0 m/s.
To find the apparent velocity of the spy as observed by the observer on the stationary submarine, we need to consider the combined effect of these velocities.
Since both velocities are in the same direction (forward is positive), we can simply add them:
Apparent velocity = velocity of the spy + velocity of the carrier
Apparent velocity = 3.4 m/s + 15.0 m/s
Apparent velocity = 18.4 m/s
Therefore, the spy appears to be running at an apparent velocity of 18.4 m/s to the observer on the stationary submarine.
Now just a second. I am not your desk calculator. But this is trivial. if he were stationary of the carrier it would be 15 m/s
If he were running back at 15,it would be zero
if he ran at 3 it would by 15 - 3