Sunday, September 1, 2013

Kinematics:
Kinematics is the study of motion.  From common knowledge, it is easy to say that anything and everything can either move on its own or be manipulated to move.

One thing that is not so commonly known is that "all motion is RELATIVE".  The first question that comes to mind is "relative to what?'


Above is an example of motion.  Not only is there a surfer moving along the face of the wave, but the white water behind him is also moving.  The surfer is moving relative to the wave as he carves up and down and relative to the people in the water and on shore.

The wave is moving as well.  When a surfer goes straight across the face of the wave it seems like the wave is not moving because they are both traveling at the same speed.  Relative to the surfer, the wave is not moving.  But, it is easily seen from shore and in the water that the wave is in fact moving.  Therefore, relative to the other surfers and spectators on shore, the wave is moving.

As the wave brings the surfer closer to shore, the surfer sees the shore approaching him.  We all know that the shore isn't actually moving itself closer to the shore, but it appears this way.  The shore is moving closer relative to the surfer just as the line-up is moving further away relative to the surfer.

This example justifies that all motion in relative.

3 comments:

  1. This was a great example of kinematics in our everyday activities

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  2. Great way of explaining how the wave is also moving relative to the surfers and how the surfers is moving relative to the wave. The last paragraph was also interesting too because you said that the shore is moving relative to the surfer when the surfer is coming in.

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