A child is standing on a walkway that is moving at 2 metres per second and decides to turn around and walk back to the start at 2 metres per second. Explain why the child cannot reach the start of the walkway at this speed.

Assuming that the walkway is moving in a positive direction, the child is walking in the opposite direction to it and is therefore walking in the negative direction. Both the child and the walkway have velocity, but their velocities are opposite since the direction they are moving in are directly opposite to eachother, however since they are moving at the same speed, the velocities will cancel out: -2+2=0. This result shows that in fact the child will not actually move and seem to be walking on the spot. 

Answered by Merry S. Physics tutor

1490 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A nail of mass 7.0g is held horizontally and is hit by a hammer of mass 0.25kg moving at 10ms^-1. The hammer remains in contact with the nail during and after the blow. (a) What is the velocity of the hammer and nail after contact?


Derive the formula for the maximum kinetic energy of an electron emitted from a metal with work function energy p , that is illuminated by light of frequency f.


If photons are little particles emitted by atoms, where were they before they got emitted?


A gold leaf electroscope with a zinc plate top is charged by briefly connecting it to the negative electrode of a high-voltage supply. Explain how the gold leaf will appear and how the leaf can be caused to drop again.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences