Questions: 12. You spot a friend on a bus while on your way to school. Why does your friend appear to be at rest even though the bus is moving? You are in a car traveling at the same speed in the opposite direction. You are riding in the same bus. You are waiting at the bus stop.

Solution Steps

When you are riding in the same bus as your friend, your friend appears to be at rest relative to you because both of you are moving at the same speed and in the same direction. In this frame of reference, there is no relative motion between you and your friend.

When you are in a car traveling at the same speed in the opposite direction, your friend on the bus will appear to be moving at twice the speed of the bus relative to you. This is because the relative speed is the sum of the speeds of both vehicles moving in opposite directions.

When you are waiting at the bus stop, your friend on the bus will appear to be moving at the speed of the bus relative to you. This is because you are stationary, and the bus is moving past you.

Final Answer