Enter the velocity of the object relative to point A and the velocity of point A relative to point B to determine the total velocity of the object relative to point B.

Total Velocity Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Total Velocity.

Vt = Vo-a + Va-b
  • Where Vt is the total velocity (m/s)
  • Vo-a is the velocity of the object relative to point A (m/s)
  • Va-b is the velocity of point A relative to point b (m/s)

To calculate total velocity sum the velocities of the objects relative to point A and point B.

What is a Total Velocity?

Definition:

A total velocity is a measure of the velocity of an object relative to another point when combining two or more relative velocities.

How to Calculate Total Velocity?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Total Velocity.

First, determine the velocity of the object relative to point A. In this example, the velocity of the object relative to point A is found to be 3m/s.

Next, determine the velocity of point A relative to point b. For this problem, the velocity of point A relative to point b is found to be 50 m/s.

Finally, calculate the Total Velocity using the formula above:

Vt = Vo-a + Va-b

Vt = 3 + 50

Vt = 53 m/s

FAQ

What is relative velocity?

Relative velocity is the velocity of an object as observed from a particular frame of reference. It is the vector difference between the velocity of the object and the velocity of the observer. It’s crucial in problems involving motion of objects with respect to each other.

How does the principle of relativity apply to velocity calculations?

The principle of relativity, particularly in classical mechanics, states that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference. When calculating velocities, this means that the relative velocity between two objects is independent of the observer’s motion, assuming the observer is in an inertial frame. This principle allows for consistent calculations of relative velocities between objects.

Can total velocity be negative?

Yes, total velocity can be negative. Velocity is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. A negative velocity indicates that the object is moving in the opposite direction to the positive reference direction. In the context of relative velocities, if the object’s motion opposes the reference direction, the calculated total velocity could indeed be negative.