Question

critical thinking items
2.1 relative motion, distance, and displacement

1. boat a and boat b are traveling at a constant speed in opposite directions when they pass each other. if a person in each boat describes motion based on the boats own reference frame, will the description by a person in boat a of boat bs motion be the same as the description by a person in boat b of boat as motion?

a. yes, both persons will describe the same motion because motion is independent of the frame of reference
b. yes, both persons will describe the same motion because they will perceive the other as moving in the backward direction.
c. no, the motion described by each of them will be different because motion is a relative term.
d. no, the motion described by each of them will be different because the motion perceived by each will be opposite to each other.

Explanation:

Motion is relative. When Boat A and Boat B are moving in opposite directions, a person in Boat A will see Boat B moving in one direction, and a person in Boat B will see Boat A moving in the opposite direction. Their descriptions of the other - boat's motion will be opposite because the reference frames are different.

Answer:

d. No, the motion described by each of them will be different because the motion perceived by each will be opposite to each other.