If our planet is travelling at 10000 mph (just using hypothetical numbers) and you launched a rocket into space at 10000 mph (ignoring the planets rotational speed to keep this simple) on the same exact path the planet is moving, would the rocket be moving at 20000 mph in space?

Answer 1

velocity has to be relative to something. What was the planet moving at 10Kmph relative to? Was it moving? What was the rocket relative to?

Answer 2

The earth is realtive to space? I don't know how they measure the speed earth is traveling. But the rocket would be relative the to same measurement as the planet's speed.

Answer 3

The simple answer is yes, it is going 20k mph. However, that is a simple answer.