How Does a Ball Come Back to You After You Throw It?

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The discussion revolves around a first-grade extra credit question about how a thrown ball can return to the thrower without hitting anything or being attached. The key answer provided is gravity, suggesting that the ball would come back due to the force of gravity pulling it back down after being thrown. Participants express amusement at the simplicity of the answer, highlighting the tendency to overthink such straightforward concepts. The conversation reflects a light-hearted acknowledgment of common misconceptions about basic physics. Understanding gravity is essential for grasping this fundamental principle of motion.
perplexed58
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My first grader got this as an extra credit question. It has me perplexed (and embarassed that I have absolutely no clue as to what the answer might be).

Here goes:
You have a ball. You throw it as hard as you can. It does not hit anything. It is not attached to anything. The ball returns to you. Explain.

Maybe I need to repeat first grade...

Thanks,
perplexed58
 
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Think gravity.

- Warren
 
Oh my God!

Thank you. Clear proof that I'm spending way too much time overthinking things.
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
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