Question

Car A travels along a freeway at 110kmh-1 going east. Car B, travelling west at 120kmh-1 spins out of control and veers towards Car A (across the median strip) at an angle 30° off course. a. What is the velocity of Car B relative to Car A?

Answer 1

To calculate the velocity relative to car A, you have to add the opposite of the velocity of car A to car B.

the velocity of car B relative to car A:
(let east and north directions be positive)
v = v (car B) - v(car A)
v(east-west direction) = -120 * cos 30° - 110
v(north - south direction) = -120 * sin 30° - 0