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Objectives
Frames of
•  Identify and describe motion relative
reference • 
to different frames of reference.

Calculate the one-dimensional

velocity of an object in a moving
frame of reference.

Assessment Physics terms

A train is moving directly away from you at a speed
of 20 m/s. Someone on the back of the train throws a
ball directly toward you at 20 m/s relative to the train. reference frame

1.  Draw a sketch representing this scenario, inertial reference frame

labeling the velocities.
2.  Describe the motion of the ball relative to you.

Equations What is a frame of reference?

Imagine you are on a moving train. You toss a dart towards
the rear of the car past a friend who is also on the same train.

What is the speed of the dart?

The velocity in reference frame 2 equals

the velocity in reference frame 1 plus the
velocity of reference frame 1 relative to
reference frame 2.

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What is a frame of reference? The train is one reference frame

The friend on the train measures 10 m/s
in the reference frame of the train.
That depends on who is asking!

What is a frame of reference? What if the reference frame is moving?

A reference frame is like an imaginary box that you choose The train is moving at 10 m/s
to be “at rest” for the purpose of making measurements. with respect to the ground.
The train car is a reference frame.

One reference frame 
is the (train car)  What speed does the 
ground observer see? 

What if the reference frame is moving? The idea of reference frames

The ground observer sees the
dart move 20 meters in one Velocities appear different to observers in different reference frames.
second:
2 The velocity of the dart
•  10 meters forward on the train 1 relative to reference
frame 2 is v2.
plus v1
The velocity in reference
•  10 more meters that the train frame 2 is the velocity in
itself moves forward. reference frame 1 plus
the velocity of frame 1
with respect to frame 2.

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Two cars Two cars

Two cars are moving toward each other at 20 m/s relative to the In one second the cars get 20 + 20 = 40 meters closer together.
ground. What is the speed of one car relative to the other car?
Therefore they approach each other at 40 m/s.

20 m/s 20 m/s 20 m/s 20 m/s

Car 1 Car 2 Car 1 Car 2

Using reference frames Using reference frames

Let the road be reference frame 1. Let the right-hand car be reference frame 2.

The driver of car 2 is at rest in this reference

Frame 1 frame.

Frame 2

Car 2 Car 2

Reference frame 2 Reference frame 2

The road (reference frame 1) is “approaching” the driver of car 2 at 20 m/s. Car 1 is approaching the driver of car 2 at 40 m/s.
Therefore the speed of Car 1 is 40 m/s in reference frame 2.

Frame 1 Frame 1

Frame 2 v1 Frame 2
20 m/s 20 m/s 20 m/s
Car 2 Car 1 Car 2

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Test your knowledge Test your knowledge

An escalator moves downward at a speed of An escalator moves downward at a speed of
3 m/s. A shopper who can run 5 m/s decides 3 m/s. A shopper who can run 5 m/s decides
to run up the down escalator. to run up the down escalator.

What is the shopper’s speed with What is the shopper’s speed with
respect to the mall? respect to the mall?

Test your knowledge Test your knowledge

An escalator moves downward at a speed of An escalator moves downward at a speed of
3 m/s. A shopper who can run 5 m/s decides 3 m/s. A shopper who can run 5 m/s decides
to run up the down escalator. to run up the down escalator.

In the shopper’s reference frame, she In the shopper’s reference frame, she
is at rest and the mall is moving. is at rest and the mall is moving.

What is the velocity of the mall in her What is the velocity of the mall in her
reference frame? reference frame?

All motion is relative Inertial frames

In the reference frame of your An inertial frame is a reference frame which has constant velocity.
classroom, a chair at rest has
a velocity of zero. The laws of physics are equally true and useful
in ANY inertial reference frame.
In the reference frame of the
solar system the chair has a
velocity of around 30,000 m/s!

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Physics in inertial frames Inertial frames

Your classroom on Earth is Switching reference frames can be very helpful—it can reveal a
approximately an inertial frame, simpler way to solve a problem. Here’s an example:
because Earth’s orbital speed is
constant. A child riding in a cart at 8 m/s tosses at ball straight
backwards with a pitching speed of 3 m/s. The ball is in
the air for one second. How far apart are the child and the
However, Earth’s rotation and
ball at the instant the ball hits the ground?
orbital motion cause its velocity
vector to keep changing direction.
A. 3 m B. 5 m C. 8 m D. 11 m
These effects can be detected in
careful experiments.

What reference frame should you use?

Inertial frames Physics in inertial frames

Switching reference frames can be very helpful—it can reveal a Imagine you are on an airplane. The plane
simpler way to solve a problem. Here’s an example: keeps a constant speed and altitude. It is
huge, windowless, and sound-proofed.
A child riding in a cart at 8 m/s tosses at ball straight
backwards with a pitching speed of 3 m/s. The ball is in How can you tell that you are moving?
the air for one second. How far apart are the child and the Drop a ball? Weight yourself?
ball at the instant the ball hits the ground?
Is there any experiment you can do that will
A. 3 m B. 5 m C. 8 m D. 11 m tell you that you are moving relative to the
Earth?

Use the child’s reference frame!

Physics in inertial frames Relativity

No! Everything we have said about relative velocity
applies to ordinary speeds.
The only way to determine the relative velocity of a
reference frame is to look outside the reference frame But when velocities approach the speed of light
and make a measurement relative to some other (186,000 miles per second) strange things happen.
reference frame.
Time can pass more slowly, or even stop, in a
moving reference frame as observed from a
stationary reference frame. This is due to the
effects of special relativity.

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Assessment Assessment
A train is moving directly away A train is moving directly away
from you at a speed of 20 m/s. from you at a speed of 20 m/s.
Someone on the back of the Someone on the back of the
train throws a ball directly train throws a ball directly
toward you at 20 m/s relative to toward you at 20 m/s relative to
the train. the train.
1.  Draw a sketch representing 1.  Draw a sketch representing
this scenario, labeling the this scenario, labeling the
velocities. velocities.

Assessment Assessment
A train is moving directly away 2.  Describe the motion of the
from you at a speed of 20 m/s. ball relative to you.
Someone on the back of the
train throws a ball directly The ball is does not move
toward you at 20 m/s relative to toward you at all.
the train. It drops straight to the
1.  Draw a sketch representing ground because its
this scenario, labeling the horizontal velocity is zero
velocities. in your frame of reference.

2.  Describe the motion of the

ball relative to you.
0 m/s = 20 m/s + -20 m/s