Physics Help Forum problem on relative velocity!

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 Aug 14th 2009, 04:30 AM #1 Junior Member   Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9 problem on relative velocity! You have two objects travelling in the opposite direction. Object A travels 5m/s to the left, Object B travels 10m/s to the right. 1. What is the speed of Object A relative to Object B. 2. What is the speed of Object B relative to Object A. 3. If Object A travels at speed of light, what will be your answer in 1 and 2?
 Aug 14th 2009, 05:06 AM #2 Junior Member     Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 12 Velocity of 1 w.r.t 2 = Velocity of 1 - Velocity of 2 Va = -5 Vb = 10 there fore va wrt b = Va - Vb = ... vb wrt a = Vb - Va = .... Va = speed of light.. agaion same formulae... Note:- Please do addict to use this formulae directly, better have a physycial feel of it and use... __________________ Thanks , Vinayender.
 Aug 14th 2009, 09:50 PM #3 Physics Team     Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 310 3. I believe you would have to consider realtivistic effects. $\displaystyle V_t = \frac {V_a + V_b}{1+ \frac {V_a V_b}{c^2}} = \frac { c^2 (V_a + V_b)}{c^2 + (V_a)(V_b)}$ In which, v_t is the composity velocity, v_a is velocity from point A and v_b is velocity from B. Speed of light is represented by c. __________________ "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." - Thomas Jefferson. "Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes her laws." -Mayer Amschel Rothschild I study Mathematical Physics at the University of Waterloo. -DC Last edited by Deco; Aug 14th 2009 at 09:53 PM.

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