...could they toss (and catch) a tennis ball between them?
If so, what allows (compels?) the ball to travel at the same speed as the motorcycles?
Still assuming they can exchange the ball, how far apart can the bikes be while still allowing the ball to travel straight across between them when tossed?
2006-08-19 17:37:19 · 10 answers · asked by vinny_the_hack 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
An interesting question. To make it even more intriguing, the distance apart is only an issue because of the wind resistance. In a vacuum, they could be as far apart as they can physically throw the ball - and the ball does not travel "straight" as you indicate in your question, it travels in a parabolic arc sideways - if it traveled straight, your partner on the motorcycle going 60 mph would be way ahead of it by the time it got to him. It looks like it's going straight to you, because it is traveling the same direction and speed as you are and each time you look at it, it is right beside you heading toward your buddy - in an apparent straight line.
2006-08-19 17:59:03 · answer #1 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, basically, what happens is that once both the bikes are travelling at a rate, they remain in motion and according to newtons first law, (every body remains in motion or in rest unless an external force acts on it). So if the ball is with one of the person thn the ball is travelling at the same speed as the bike and thus the inertia of the bikes compells the ball to stay in the same motion.
The bikes can be as far as they want to be because of the balls inertia, it tends to go back and front both the bikes but this only happens while we ignore air resistance and any other sort of friction force.
2006-08-19 20:15:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure.
What compels it to do this? Inertia. The ball is traveling at the same speed as the bikes, but as soon as it's thrown it wil begin to slow, so it would have to be thrown a little ahead of the other dude on that bike.
You'd have to worry about wind resistance, so unless the ball is heavy enough this could greatly influence how far apart the bikes are from each other.
2006-08-19 17:53:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what allow the ball to be 60mph is the same thing that allowed the two guys to travel at 60mph what allows it to stay 60mph is that nothing or no force has tried to stop it when they tossed it.
just like u toss a ball on earth when its moving around the sun.
thats of cours neglecting air resistance and gravity.
also when u toss the ball its speed will change it will still have 60mph hours in the direction of ur bike plus the speed u give it when u throw it at ur friend
2006-08-19 18:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by Salem O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
assuming there is no air resistance, they will be able to catch de ball as the ball is also travelling at 60mph. tink ofrunning left and throwing a dart when u reach de bulls eye, u ll hit left of the bulls eye as the dart is travelling left. IF negleting air resistance, the dist between the motorcycle is only limited by how low the catcher can catch as no matter de dist, de ball will still be travelling at 60mph with respect to the dir the motorcycle is travelling towards.
2006-08-19 22:13:09 · answer #5 · answered by ThoughTs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can, I think, it's one of Newton's Laws, actually, don't ask me, I'm no scientist!
I had a similar question once, if you jump while on a moving train, why are you in the same place when you land and not say ten feet down the carriage, surely the train moves around you, if you know what I mean. A friend explained it to me, some law, don't know if he was right though. Something to do with the momentum of a body.
Throwing balls at each other whilst operating a motor vehicle is surely inadvisable though.
2006-08-19 17:49:24 · answer #6 · answered by shinjiikari6662000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ignoring, air resistance and gravity, they can always exange balls however far they are from one another. This is because the ball travels at the same speed as the motorcycle because it is on the motorcycle and they still carry this speed even if they leave the motorcycle. ... =)
2006-08-19 17:56:12 · answer #7 · answered by !_! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the ball is traveling at the same speed as the bikes. the distance between the bikes will be determined by how hard they can throw the ball. the greater distance the harder it will have to be thrown to counter resistance.
2006-08-19 17:46:06 · answer #8 · answered by sllyjo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inertia. However, as they move farther apart, increasing wind resistance will slow the ball down and make it uncatchable.
2006-08-19 17:46:51 · answer #9 · answered by RG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
INERTIA.
The power of a body in motion to remain in motion, or a body at rest to remain at rest.
2006-08-19 17:43:49 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋