Calculating Ball Velocity Dropped From Moving Helicopter

AI Thread Summary
When a ball is dropped from a helicopter moving vertically at 5.0 m/s, its initial velocity is 5.0 m/s relative to the helicopter. However, the ball's velocity relative to the ground depends on the helicopter's vertical direction. If the helicopter is moving upward, the ball's initial velocity is 5.0 m/s upward. If the helicopter is descending, the ball's initial velocity would be 5.0 m/s downward. The discussion highlights the importance of clarifying the helicopter's vertical motion to determine the ball's initial velocity accurately.
Haftred
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This might be a stupid question, but if a helicopter is moving at 5.0 m/s vertically, and one drops a ball off the helicopter, what is the original velocity of the ball?
 
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5m/s... relative to the ground and it will be in rest relative to the helicopter. Ofcourse only a splitsecond later this will not be true and the ball will accellerate under the influence of gravity.
 
Last edited:
5.0m/s upward.
 
Nenad said:
5.0m/s upward.

Only if the helicopter was moving upward. The original post said vertically, so you don't know if it's moving upward or downwards.
 
da_willem said:
Only if the helicopter was moving upward. The original post said vertically, so you don't know if it's moving upward or downwards.

if your trying to rack up posts, go ahead, but comments like that are not needed. :smile:
 
Nenad said:
if your trying to rack up posts, go ahead, but comments like that are not needed. :smile:

K, you are right, I was trying to be too accurate...over such an obvious thing. :blush:
 

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