Leumas Physics

Relativistic Addition of Two Speeds

v = (u + w)/(1 + u·w/c^2)

What it says

Speeds do not simply add; this keeps the result below c however fast the parts are.

Symbols

SymbolQuantityDimension
vCombined speed (m/s)L T^-1
uFirst speed (m/s)L T^-1
wSecond speed (m/s)L T^-1

Work it out

Enter what you know. No account needed.

Fill in all but one: u, w, v are all empty.

Filed under Relativity · derive through it in the explorer