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It means there's no answer to the question "How fast is it really moving ?", because there's

no such thing as "real" motion. Motion always means "compared to" something else.

Did you ever read a book while you were sitting in an airliner that was flying past the ground

at 400 miles an hour ?

"Relative to" the ground, the airplane was going 400 miles an hour. And so was the book.

But relative to you, the book wasn't moving at all; its speed was zero.

Which speed was real, 400 mph or zero ? They were bothreal, and neither one was more real

than the other one.

Motion, speed, distance, and place, are always "compared to" something else.

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βˆ™ 14y ago
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βˆ™ 8mo ago

Speed is relative means that the speed of an object is measured in relation to the speed of another object or reference point. This concept is a fundamental principle in physics, as the motion of an object is always described relative to something else.

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What does reference point mean when having to do with speed?

A reference point in the context of speed is a fixed location from which the speed of an object is observed or measured. It provides a frame of reference for determining the speed of an object relative to that fixed point.


Is speed relative to mass?

Speed is not directly relative to mass. An object's speed is determined by its velocity, which is a measure of both the speed and direction of its motion. While mass can affect an object's acceleration and how it responds to external forces, it does not directly determine its speed.


If you walk towards a mirror at a certain speed the relative speed between you and your image is?

You can be twice as certain about your speed now.


Which of these is true of a person walking up the steps of a downward-moving escalator a a constant speed?

The person's speed relative to the escalator is the sum of their walking speed and the speed of the escalator. If they continue moving up the steps at a constant speed, they are exerting more effort to maintain that speed compared to walking on a stationary surface. As a result, their vertical velocity relative to the ground is increased.


What does relative refractive index tells?

The relative refractive index describes the change in speed of light as it moves from one medium to another, indicating how much the light bends or refracts at the interface of the two media. It is calculated as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the medium in question. The larger the relative refractive index, the more the light is bent or refracted as it enters the medium.

Related questions

Speed what does it mean?

Speed is the relative velocity of a body (such as an athlete) given a frame of reference (such as the ground).


What is relative wind speed?

Relative for starters means exact or close to. Wind Speed is how fast the air is blowing. It other words, this would mean an estimate or exact measurement to the Wind Speed.


What does the input turbine speed sensor malfunctioning in a ford escort mean?

it controls the overdrive function and shift timing relative to speed


What speed does have the earth?

Speed must be specified relative to something. Relative to the Sun, the speed of Earth is about 30 km/second. Relative to the Milky Way, or relative to the Local Group, you would get different numbers.


Why is mass not relative?

Mass IS relative to the speed you are going.


What is relative speed?

Relative speed is the speed between two moving objects with no regards to a fixed reference. Speed is how fast something is moving with respect to an object.


What does reference point mean when having to do with speed?

A reference point in the context of speed is a fixed location from which the speed of an object is observed or measured. It provides a frame of reference for determining the speed of an object relative to that fixed point.


What is the relative speed of liquid particles?

No


How fast can a man on a train run?

the answer is relative.. if you are standing on the same train, for you the man will be running as fast as it would do on the ground. If you are standing on the ground, then his speed relative to you will be the composition of the train speed + his speed. to make it more interesting.. think now that the train it's running with a speed that approach the speed of light relative to you.


Is speed and distance the same thing?

No, distance and speed are two separate measurements. Distance is how far an object moves relative to speed and time, and speed is how fast an object moves relative to time and distance.


What effects the speed of a object?

Speed is relative to the speed of light and gravity. So gravity could effect speed.


Is speed relative to mass?

Speed is not directly relative to mass. An object's speed is determined by its velocity, which is a measure of both the speed and direction of its motion. While mass can affect an object's acceleration and how it responds to external forces, it does not directly determine its speed.