What is the Bug's Velocity Relative to the Road?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the velocity of a bug flying inside a car moving eastward, specifically how fast the bug is moving relative to the road. The scenario includes both the bug flying eastward and a case where the bug moves westward.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the concept of relative velocity and its application to the problem, with one participant suggesting that the westward movement of the bug should be treated as a negative value. Another participant raises a question about average acceleration and its calculation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring the principles of relative velocity and acceleration. Some participants are providing insights into the calculations involved, while others are questioning the definitions and relationships between velocity and acceleration. There is no explicit consensus yet, but the dialogue is productive.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the implications of directionality in velocity and how it affects calculations, particularly in the context of relative motion. There may be assumptions about the definitions of positive and negative velocities based on the chosen frame of reference.

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Homework Statement


car moving 12.0m/sec eastward on straight road. inside car, bug is flying eastward at 2.0m/s relative to the car. how fast is the bug moving relative to the road? repeat for the bug moving westward.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



i assume the westward movement will be a negative ratio
 
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You know how relative velocity works?

Its like this:

V1(Relative velocity of body 'a' wrt to body 'b') = V2(Velocity of body 'a' wrt ground) -
V3(Velocity of body 'b' wrt ground)

Yes the westward movement will be -ve quantity if u take the eastward motion of car as +ve.
 
Last edited:
what about average acceleration? is that distance/time?
 
Change in displacement over time is velocity. Changes in velocity over time is acceleration.

Average acceleration is the average acceleration over a period of time, say t1 (10.30am) and t2 (10.32am). Then if the velocity v1 at t1 was 40km/hr and the velocity v2 at time t2 was 30km/hr, the average acceleration would be:

(v2-v1) divided by (t2-t1) = (-10km/hr) per (2 mins) = -5 km/hr per min
which is interpreted as a slow down of 5km/hr in velocity every minute, over the past 2 minutes.
 

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