What Happens When a Ball Is Thrown in a Moving Car?

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In summary, according to the theory of relativity, any object inside a car moving at a uniform speed behaves as if it is at rest. Therefore, if a man throws a ball in an open roof car at uniform speed, the ball would land back in its original position assuming no other external forces are applied. However, in the real world with air resistance, the ball would not follow this same path. The principle of relativity was known in Galileo's time, and this thought experiment does not question this principle.
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sunney
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acoording to theory of relativity, if a car is moving at a uniform speed then any object inside that car behave like its in rest. so what happens if a man throws a ball in an open roof car which is at uniform speed, where that ball is likely to land , assuming no other external force is applied to the ball ?
 
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sunney said:
acoording to theory of relativity, if a car is moving at a uniform speed then any object inside that car behave like its in rest. so what happens if a man throws a ball in an open roof car which is at uniform speed, where that ball is likely to land , assuming no other external force is applied to the ball ?
Have you tried the experiment in a closed roof car? Do you expect that an open roof will make a difference?
 
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What happens when you spit your gum out on the freeway? Why do you think it would be different out of an open roof? (Hint: Air Resistance/Drag)

Most thought experiments like this are made with the assumption of being in a vacuum, where no wind resistance is at play. If this were in a vacuum and the ball was to be thrown straight up, it would come right back down to where it was released provided no that other forces were present besides gravity. However, in the real world, that ball

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum

I hope that helps!
 
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This is a question fully addressed by Galilean relativity, as the relative speeds are so low. In an open roof, in the frame of the car, there is a wind blowing around the car which will obviously affect a ball thrown through an open roof. Note that the principle of relativity was known in Galileo's time, as was an understanding that this example in no way 'questions' the principle.
 
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If you have Audible, Great Ideas of Classical Physics with Steven Pollock addresses this in the second chapter too.
 

1. What happens to the ball when it is thrown in a moving car?

When a ball is thrown in a moving car, it will continue to move in the direction it was thrown, following the laws of motion. This means that the ball will have both a horizontal and vertical component to its motion, resulting in a parabolic path.

2. Does the speed of the car affect the ball's trajectory?

Yes, the speed of the car will affect the ball's trajectory. If the car is moving at a constant speed, the ball will appear to be moving in a straight line from the perspective of someone inside the car. However, from an outside perspective, the ball's trajectory will be affected by the car's speed and direction.

3. Will the ball hit the back of the car when thrown towards the front?

It depends on the speed and direction of the car and the initial velocity of the ball. If the car is moving at a constant speed and the ball is thrown with enough force, it is possible for the ball to hit the back of the car. However, if the car is accelerating or decelerating, the ball's trajectory will also be affected.

4. How does the car's acceleration affect the ball's motion?

The car's acceleration will affect the ball's motion in the same way it affects any other object in the car. If the car is accelerating forward, the ball will also accelerate forward. If the car is accelerating backwards or turning, the ball will experience a force in the opposite direction.

5. Can the ball's motion in a moving car be predicted?

Yes, the ball's motion in a moving car can be predicted using the laws of motion and knowledge of the car's speed and direction. However, if there are external forces acting on the car or the ball, such as wind or friction, the ball's motion may be more difficult to predict accurately.

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