1.4 Reference Frames and Relative Motion

Describe the reference frame of a given observer.

• The choice of reference frame will determine the direction and magnitude of quantities measured by an observer in that reference frame.

Describe the motion of objects as measured by observers in different inertial reference frames.

• Measurements from a given reference frame may be converted to measurements from another reference frame.
• The observed velocity of an object results from the combination of the object’s velocity and the velocity of the observer’s reference frame.
  • i. Combining the motion of an object and the motion of an observer in a given reference frame involves the addition or subtraction of vectors.
  • ii. The acceleration of any object is the same as measured from all inertial reference frames. TOPIC 1.4 Reference Frames and Relative Motion