ELi5 : Do overtaking vehicles appear to be travelling faster or slower than if I was stationary?

Question

If I’m in a car travelling at 60mph and am over-taken by a car travelling at 75 mph, do they appear to travel at the same relative speed as when I am stationary and and a car passes me at 15 mph?

Or is this different because we are both moving?

Thanks for any answers.

In: 0

Answer 1

It’s completely the same. When you are both moving, the only thing that could alter your perception is the moving background. That could give you the impression that it’s faster than it is. But physically it is the same.