Acceleration after applying a force

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 3K views
archaic
Messages
688
Reaction score
214
Hello,
1) Suppose I throw a ball with a force ##F=ma##, the instant it leaves my hand, does it have the same acceleration ##a## added to it accelerations due to "ambient" forces (air resistance, gravity..)?
2) If I am right about 1), doesn't my hand already carry the acceleration/deceleration due to those forces? So why isn't it only ##a##?
3) Generally, when I make something move, do I give it acceleration or velocity? I think velocity since I cause a displacement.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
archaic said:
Hello,
1) Suppose I throw a ball with a force ##F=ma##, the instant it leaves my hand, does it have the same acceleration ##a## added to it accelerations due to "ambient" forces (air resistance, gravity..)?
While your hand is in contact with the ball you exert some force on it, adding to the net force on the ball, which determines its acceleration. As soon as the ball leaves your hand, your hand no longer exerts a force on it.
 
Doc Al said:
While your hand is in contact with the ball you exert some force on it, adding to the net force on the ball, which determines its acceleration. As soon as the ball leaves your hand, your hand no longer exerts a force on it.
Yes, but the moment it leaves my hand does it conserve that ##a##?
 
archaic said:
Yes, but the moment it leaves my hand does it conserve that ##a##?
No. Something accelerates only when there's a net force on it. Remove the force and there's no longer an acceleration.