If I were to toss a tennis ball straight up in the air on a fast moving subway car, why does it come right down to me and not fall to the back of the train? Is it that there is already forward momentum from the toss?
2007-12-14 05:39:55 · 10 answers · asked by Swede 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
obviously it has the same velocity as you
2007-12-14 05:44:42 · answer #1 · answered by Bessie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might as well be asking ..why is it when standing on earth and you jump in the air the earth doesn't spin around under your feet at a 1000mph. Silly isnt it. You and the ball move at the same horizonal velocity that the train moves. When you throw the ball up you will not change the balls horizontal velocity at all...it wont shot to the back of the train.
2007-12-14 05:55:20 · answer #2 · answered by Brian 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You answered your own question with your last sentence. It's for the same reason that if you're traveling 50mph in a car, not wearing seatbelts, the car hits a brick wall or other unstoppable force, the car stops but you don't.
The forward momentum of the tennis ball isn't obvious because of your own momentum.
Phurface
2007-12-14 05:49:12 · answer #3 · answered by Phurface 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dear Sir,
As the reference of the ball is as same as that of the car's velocity. When the ball is tossed, the ball will have the same component of velocity in horizontal direction along with vertical component due to which it comes back to you.
The thing to be observed is that you are imparting the same horizontal component of velocity with which you are moving.
2007-12-14 06:10:47 · answer #4 · answered by Jerry 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reason why that tennis ball comes back to you is simple,As you both(u and the ball) are travelling in same car.when you toss that ball in air ,ball not only have vertical velocity but also have horizontal velocity which is same as yours.And reason why you can't see ball travelling horizontally is because your frame of reference is same as that of ball.If a guy outside that see that ball he will notice that horizontal component of velocity.in physics u can say that ball has got moment of inertia,same as you.And which u can not notice.
2007-12-14 07:02:58 · answer #5 · answered by shammi_f1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because inside the sub is a closed system, like the earth revolving, u cannot tell you are in motion unless u look outside and decide that relatively to the surrounding u are moving.
so its the same as being in rest and playing with a ball.
you could be still and the world outside the sub moving in the opposite direction...
2007-12-14 05:47:36 · answer #6 · answered by ash 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its just due to inertia of movement. Before the ball is tossed it moves with you hence after it is tossed also it moves in the same velocity as before. hence moves with you and falls on your hand instead of back.
2007-12-14 06:13:29 · answer #7 · answered by ridhi 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The law of inertia posits that a body in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
2007-12-14 07:18:46 · answer #8 · answered by marc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, forward momentum. Air friction isn't big enough to cause a noticeable effect.
2007-12-14 05:47:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the sub is moving, not you.
2007-12-14 05:44:43 · answer #10 · answered by whatever 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋