Falling Elevator - Projectiles

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When a ball is projected at an angle in a falling elevator, its path appears parabolic from an inertial frame due to the influence of gravity. However, from the perspective of someone inside the elevator, the ball would appear to move in a straight line because both the ball and the elevator are in free fall. This means that the ball's velocity remains constant relative to the observer in the elevator. The discussion emphasizes that in free fall, objects do not experience the effects of gravity in the same way as they do in a stationary frame. Thus, the behavior of the ball differs based on the observer's reference frame.
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What would be seen if a ball were projected at an angle to the horizontal in a falling elevator? Would the path be parabolic as always? And why?
 
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Try working out the problem in an inertial frame, and then working out what happens from the POV of someone falling with the lift.

Or another way: you have heard of "free fall" right?
What happens to ball's thrown in free fall?
 
Simon Bridge said:
Try working out the problem in an inertial frame, and then working out what happens from the POV of someone falling with the lift.

Or another way: you have heard of "free fall" right?
What happens to ball's thrown in free fall?

The path would be parabolic whether or not the reference frame was accelerated?
 
MohammedRady97 said:
The path would be parabolic whether or not the reference frame was accelerated?

Hint: The "vomit" airplane that astronauts practice into simulate zero-g is an airplane in free-fall.

So think again, what do you think the path should look like?

Zz.
 
MohammedRady97 said:
The path would be parabolic whether or not the reference frame was accelerated?
Imagine you released a ball from your hand while in that free falling elevator. What would happen?
 
Doc Al said:
Imagine you released a ball from your hand while in that free falling elevator. What would happen?

From my reference frame the ball would be stationary.
 
MohammedRady97 said:
From my reference frame the ball would be stationary.
Good! Now what happens if you gave it an initial velocity?
 
Doc Al said:
Good! Now what happens if you gave it an initial velocity?

It would simply move in a straight line.
 
MohammedRady97 said:
It would simply move in a straight line.
Yep.
 
  • #10
So the velocity of the ball relative to me would be constant?
 
  • #11
MohammedRady97 said:
So the velocity of the ball relative to me would be constant?
That's correct.
 
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