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Relative velocity

 

 
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Relative velocity
 
 
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In kinematics
Kinematics

Kinematics is a branch of classical mechanics which describes the motion of objects without consideration of the causes leading to the motion....
, relative velocity is the vector difference between the velocities
Velocity

In physics, velocity is defined as the Derivative of Position vector. It is a vector physical quantity; both speed and direction are required to define it....
 of two objects, as evaluated in terms of a single coordinate system
Coordinate system

In mathematics and its applications, a coordinate system is a system for assigning an n-tuple of numbers or scalar to each Point in an n-dimensional space....
, usually an inertial frame of reference
Inertial frame of reference

In physics, an inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference, tied to the state of motion of an Observer , with the property that each physical law portrays itself in the same form in every inertial frame....
 unless specifically stated otherwise.

For example, if the velocities of particles A and B are vA and vB respectively in terms of a given inertial coordinate system, then the relative velocity of A with respect to B (also called the velocity of A relative to B) is vA – vB.






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In kinematics
Kinematics

Kinematics is a branch of classical mechanics which describes the motion of objects without consideration of the causes leading to the motion....
, relative velocity is the vector difference between the velocities
Velocity

In physics, velocity is defined as the Derivative of Position vector. It is a vector physical quantity; both speed and direction are required to define it....
 of two objects, as evaluated in terms of a single coordinate system
Coordinate system

In mathematics and its applications, a coordinate system is a system for assigning an n-tuple of numbers or scalar to each Point in an n-dimensional space....
, usually an inertial frame of reference
Inertial frame of reference

In physics, an inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference, tied to the state of motion of an Observer , with the property that each physical law portrays itself in the same form in every inertial frame....
 unless specifically stated otherwise.

For example, if the velocities of particles A and B are vA and vB respectively in terms of a given inertial coordinate system, then the relative velocity of A with respect to B (also called the velocity of A relative to B) is vA – vB. Conversely the velocity of B relative to A is vB – vA. If no other system of coordinates is specified, the expression velocity of A relative to B is usually understood as shorthand for the velocity of A in terms of an inertial coordinate system with respect to which B is at rest.

See also

  • Velocity
    Velocity

    In physics, velocity is defined as the Derivative of Position vector. It is a vector physical quantity; both speed and direction are required to define it....
  • Special relativity
    Special relativity

    Special relativity is the physical theory of measurement in inertial frames of reference proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein in the paper "Annus Mirabilis Papers#Special relativity"....
  • Classical mechanics
    Classical mechanics

    Classical mechanics is used for describing the motion of macroscopic objects, from projectiles to parts of machinery, as well as astronomical objects, such as spacecraft, planets, stars, and galaxies....


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