Frame of reference!!!



Hi guys,,,

I have some diffucilties in understanding the idea of relative
velocity. My question is based on the example of a car and a stationary
observer. From one point of view, The car is moving with certain speed
v,say, relative to the stationary observer. But, it is argued that the
observer will be seen as going back if we consider the car as our frame
of reference. For me, this does not make sense since the car is itself
moving while the observer is indeed stationary thus how can we say he
is going back with speed v.

I am not a physisast, so could you plz. answer without going through
physical terminology.

Thanks for your help in advnce..

Best,

Fai

.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Comment on Wikipedia entry: Simple inference of time dilation
    ... :>: moving with a velocity greater than the speed of light in the rest ... :>: observers reference frame. ... :>: Why is the velocity of the source added to the velocity of the photon? ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Whats the deal with Paul Marmet?
    ... towards the observer at the moving origin." ... | taken into account that the velocity of light passes from +c ... | constant velocity of light in the moving frame. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Einsteins Doppler equation wrong?
    ... > In ON THE ELECTRODYNAMICS OF MOVING BODIES Sect 7 Einstein says the ... > If the source is travelling directly to or directly from an observer ... > propagating medium and the other is time dilation. ... But Einstein defined the positive velocity away from the observer. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Comment on Wikipedia entry: Simple inference of time dilation
    ... derivation of the time dilation formula contains a "simple algebraic ... Observer moving parallel relative to setup, ... given a sideways velocity like a projectile. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: The GPS GR Correction, put to Rest.
    ... >As the car approaches you hear an increase in frequency. ... *arrives* at the observer. ... In the case of sound there is a propagating medium. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)