If a pro-pitcher was in the back of a truck going exactly 60mph, threw a ball the opposite direction?

Question

of travel, in a vacuum, exactly 60mph, I was standing on the side of the rode where he released the ball, WHAT would it do?

Answer 1

Wait, so you are saying he is moving 60mph, and he throws 60mph in the direction he was coming from? If you sum the velocities you get zero; the ball would drop straight down (from your point of view). To him, it would appear to be moving at 60mph.

If he simply dropped the ball, it would be moving at 60mph alongside him. To him, it would look like it were falling straight down. You can test this; toss a ball straight up in a moving vehicle - as long as you do not turn a corner or change speed, the ball will move straight up and come back down.

Obviously wind resistance at 60mph is significant, but since you said it was in a vacuum, there is no wind. If you tried tossing a ball up in a convertible with the roof open, it would decelerate a bit.

Answer 2

From your point of view, the ball would fall straight to the ground with no lateral motion. From the pitchers view, it would fly away from him at 60 mph.