A freight train is moving at a constant speed of Vt. A man standing on a flatcar throws a ball
into the air and catches it as it falls. Relative to the flatcar, the initial vellocity of the ball is Vib
straight up.
a. What are the magnitude and direction of the initial velocity of the ball as seen by a second man
standing on the ground next to the track?
b. How much time is the ball in the air according to the man on the train? According to the man
on the ground? Mathematically prove your two answers.
c. What horizontal distance has the ball traveleed by the time it is caught according to the man on
the train? According to the man on the ground?
d. What is the minimum speed of the ball during its flight according to the man on the train?
According to the man on the ground?
e. What is the acceleration of the ball according to the man on the train? According to the man on
the ground?
1 answer