Question

26 andy was driving east with a velocity of 2 meters per second (m/s) relative to the ground. while he was driving, he noticed that he was approaching a road sign. image: andy’s car, road sign, east direction arrow which statement correctly describes the motion of the road sign as seen from andy’s frame of reference? f the road sign appears to accelerate 2 m/s² toward the east. g the road sign appears to accelerate 2 m/s² toward the west. h the road sign appears to move at a constant 2 m/s to the east. j the road sign appears to move at a constant 2 m/s to the west.

Explanation:

To solve this, we use the concept of relative motion. Andy is moving east at a constant velocity of \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \) relative to the ground. From Andy’s frame of reference (where Andy is considered stationary), the road sign, which is stationary relative to the ground, will appear to move in the opposite direction (west) at the same constant speed as Andy’s velocity relative to the ground, since there’s no acceleration mentioned (Andy’s velocity is constant).

• Option F and G are incorrect because there’s no acceleration (Andy’s velocity is constant, so the road sign’s apparent motion is at constant speed, not accelerating).
• Option H is incorrect because the road sign should appear to move west (opposite to Andy’s eastward motion), not east.
• Option J is correct: the road sign appears to move at a constant \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \) to the west relative to Andy.

Answer:

J. The road sign appears to move at a constant 2 m/s to the west.