One of the key points of Einstein’s theory of relativity is that any physical observation or experiment has the exact same result regardless of any uniform speed of the reference frame in which the experiment is carried out. Again, because it is energy differences that matter, the choice of what is considered “zero velocity” is as arbitrary as choosing what is zero height. Only in extreme cases, such as speeds near the speed of light or near a black hole, are there differences due to relative motion of reference frames. These differences are completely unnoticeable in ordinary experience.
A 60 kg man is sitting on the floor of an airplane 8,000 m high traveling at 850 km/h. How much total mechanical energy does he have relative to the reference frame of the plane?
- 0 J
- 1,700,000 J
- 4,700,000 J
- 6,400,000 J
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Relative to the plane, the man is at height 0 and is traveling with velocity 0, so his total mechanical energy is also 0.
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