ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Velocity ratio

Velocity ratio is all about how things move faster or slower compared to each other. Imagine you and your friend are on a playground swing. If you pump your legs faster than your friend, you'll go higher than your friend. This is because your velocity ratio is higher than your friend's.

The velocity ratio is the ratio of the distances covered by two objects or parts of the same object in the same amount of time. So, in our example, we can measure the distance you and your friend swing in one minute. If you swing 10 feet and your friend swings 5 feet in the same amount of time, then your velocity ratio is 2:1 because you covered twice the distance that your friend covered.

Velocity ratio is important because it can help us understand how different objects move in a simple way. It can be used to figure out how different gears or pulleys work, which can help us make machines that do cool things. So, the next time you swing on a playground swing, remember that your velocity ratio is what's making you fly higher or lower!