Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 3: Q.19CQ (page 120)

If someone is riding in the back of a pickup truck and throws a softball straight backward, is it possible for the ball to fall straight down as viewed by a person standing at the side of the road? Under what condition would this occur? How would the motion of the ball appear to the person who threw it?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The person is riding at the back of a pickup truck and throws the softball straight in the backward direction with the same speed as the truck relative to the ground. Yes, it is possible that the person on the side of the road will see the ball fall straight down.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1: Frame of reference

A frame of reference is a collection of coordinates used to indicate the relationship between a moving observer and an event. The frame of reference is further classified into the inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.

02

Determine speed of truck

The person on the side of the road will see the ball fall straight down, as the person is at rest and has a different frame of reference.

This would happen as the person on the truck will see the ball moving downwards with a speed equal to the speed of the truck moving forward relative to the ground.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

In 2007, Michael Carter (U.S.) set a world record in the shot put with a throw of 24.77m. What was the initial speed of the shot if he released it at a height of2.10m and 38.0°threw it at an angle of above the horizontal? (Although the maximum distance for a projectile on level ground is achieved at 45° when air resistance is neglected, the actual angle to achieve maximum range is smaller; thus,38° will give a longer range than45° in the shot put.)

A farmer wants to fence off his four-sided plot of flat land. He measures the first three sides, shown asA,B, andCin Figure 3.62, and then correctly calculates the length and orientation of the fourth side D. What is his result?

In an attempt to escape his island, Gilligan builds a raft and sets to sea. The wind shifts a great deal during the day, and he is blown along the following straight lines: 2.50km45.0°north of west; then 4.70km60.0°south of east; then 1.30km25.0°south of west; then 5.10kmstraight east; then 1.70km5.00°east of north; then 7.20km 55.0°south of west; and finally 2.80km10.0°north of east. What is his final position relative to the island?

An eagle is flying horizontally at a speed of3.00m/s when the fish in her talons wiggles loose and falls into the lake5.00m below. Calculate the velocity of the fish relative to the water when it hits the water.

(a) Another airplane is flying in a jet stream that is blowing at m/sin a direction south of east. Its direction of motion relative to the Earth is south of west, while its direction of travel relative to the air is south of west. What is the airplane’s speed relative to the air mass?

(b) What is the airplane’s speed relative to the Earth?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Kinematics Physics

Read Explanation

Dynamics

Read Explanation

Engineering Physics

Read Explanation

Energy Physics

Read Explanation

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Read Explanation

Famous Physicists

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free