So here is the question that I am stuck on: While heading north at 150 m/s towar

Question

So here is the question that I am stuck on:

While heading north at 150 m/s toward thestar Polaris a spaceship sends out a probe due east. If the probeis launched at 186 m/s with respect to theship, what is its speed with respect to the star?


The answers I have tried so far with different calculation are: 16,336, 186, 36, and -186
I think I am having a problem with the whole "with respect to"concept when there are three variables...not two.........if someonecould explain...possibly with an example or two I would be verygrateful.

Explanation / Answer

The speed of the spaceship is vy = 150 m/s The probe is launched at vx = 186 m/s with respectto the ship The speed of the probe with respect to the star is v = (vx2 +vy2)1/2 or v = ((186)2 +(150)2)1/2 = 238.9 m/s or v = ((186)2 +(150)2)1/2 = 238.9 m/s

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