Simple,quick relative velocity question?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
sameeralord
Messages
659
Reaction score
3
Hello I'll make it quick

Boat is traveling at 10m/s the sea is traveling at 5m/s. What is the speed of the boat relative to the sea and why?

Through vectors I worked it out to be 10m/s(not sure) but shouldn't it be five because if a person is standing in the sea and sees the boat it would be traveling at 5m/s.

The ship relative to the ground is 15m/s right.

Thank you!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
B=boat
S=Sea
G=ground.

B/S= Boat relative to Sea


I assume if there is a diagram it looks like this


--------> boat
----> sea

[tex]\vec{v}_{B/S}=\vec{v}_B-\vec{v}_S = 10-5=5 m/s[/tex]


So the boat 'feels' as if it is traveling at 5m/s instead of 10m/s
 
rock.freak667 said:
B=boat
S=Sea
G=ground.

B/S= Boat relative to Sea


I assume if there is a diagram it looks like this


--------> boat
----> sea

[tex]\vec{v}_{B/S}=\vec{v}_B-\vec{v}_S = 10-5=5 m/s[/tex]


So the boat 'feels' as if it is traveling at 5m/s instead of 10m/s

Thank you for your help. Isn't it 15m/s-10m/s. That is where my confusion lies. Isn't the boat relative to the ground 15m/s(someone in the shore would feel the boat traveling at 15m/s). When you are in the boat do you feel the resultant velocity or the actual velocity.
 
sameeralord said:
Boat is traveling at 10m/s
With respect to what? The water or the ground? And in what direction?
the sea is traveling at 5m/s.
Presumably with respect to the ground.