Suppose you place a ball in the middle of
Describe the motion of the ball (a) relative to the ground and (b) relative to the wagon
Neglect air resistance
2006-11-12 05:15:09 · 3 answers · asked by sokrgrl7777 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
You physics types ALWAYS have to delete something, eh? Like mass, or air resistance or friction! lol
Anyway, I think the ball would be a) either moving forward or stationary, depending on the wagon's rate of acceleration, relative to the ground, and b) rolling backward (due to inertia), relative to the wagon.
2006-11-12 05:25:31 · answer #1 · answered by Gwynneth Of Olwen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the ball's friction with the floor of the wagon and the acceleration...
If the instantaneous acceleration is high (higher than the wagon's floor's friction force), then the ball would stay in the same position relative to the ground until it hit the back of the wagon. If the acceleration is slow (without enough force to overcome friction), then the ball would remain in the middle of the wagon but move in relation to the ground.
If you have the values for the ball's mass, the wagon's acceleration, and μ, then you can mathematically prove the above.
hope that helped!
2006-11-12 06:25:53 · answer #2 · answered by kidSwift 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Until the ball hits something in the wagon, it will be stationary relative to the ground. It will roll back in the wagon.
2006-11-12 05:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by 27ridgeline 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋