You are riding on a flatbed truck moving at 50 kilometers per hour. You have two identical guns, one aimed forward and one aimed backward, and you fire them at the same time.

Question

According to an observer in the ground,
1. the backward bullet appears to move
faster.
2. they both appear to move at the same
speed.
3. the forward bullet appears to move
faster.

According to an observer on the truck,
1. the forward bullet appears to move
faster.
2. the backward bullet appears to move
faster.
3. they both appear to move at the same
speed.

Well I know that if it was just the backward ball, then it would look like it wasn't moving, but what does the forward ball do to change it?

Answer 1

I do not understand your comment at all.

Answer 2

I saw a video in class that only had the backwards ball involved, and the backwards ball didn't move at all. So I'm wondering what the effect of the forward ball does to the problem.

Answer 3

I just did part 1 of your question. The answer is 3. the forward bullet appears to move faster.

Answer 4

Part 2 is 3. they both appear to move at the same speed according to the observer on the truck.