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Why are vectors important to the concept of relative velocity?

1 Answer

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  • 5 months ago

    Because relative velocities can be represented as vectors.  And using vectors make relative velocity calculations simple.

    E.g.

    vAB is the velocity of A relative to B

    vBC is the velocity of B relative to C

    then the velocity of  A relative to C is

    vAC = vAB + vBC

    (Note this is not simple addition of 2 numbers; for example vAB could be 20m/s north and vBC could be 5m/s southeast.  The calculation must allow for directions as well as the speeds.)

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