Understanding the Physics Behind Dropping a Tennis Ball While Driving

  • Context: High School 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of dropping a tennis ball from a moving car, specifically addressing the perceived motion of the ball relative to the car and the effects of air resistance. Participants explore the scenario of dropping the ball while driving at 40 mph, considering both the presence and absence of air resistance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes that the ball appears to "fly back" due to air resistance acting against its motion, while it would maintain its horizontal speed if dropped in a vacuum.
  • Another participant agrees that the ball decelerates because of air resistance, leading to a difference in speed between the ball and the car after it is dropped.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that without air resistance, the ball would continue to travel at the same speed as the car until it hits the ground, implying that the ball's motion is influenced by the absence of frictional forces.
  • One participant mentions a personal experience with air resistance when holding hands out of the car, relating it to the discussion but does not elaborate on the physics involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the role of air resistance in the perceived motion of the ball, but there are differing interpretations regarding the implications of dropping the ball in a vacuum and the nature of its motion relative to the car.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the effects of air resistance and friction are not fully explored, and there are unresolved aspects regarding the exact mechanics of the ball's motion in both scenarios.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring concepts in classical mechanics, particularly those related to motion, forces, and the effects of air resistance.

Dio.
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argument, please answer!

Ok, I've been arguing for a while about this, its probably easy for you to answer, but I need to know which is true and which is not. Here is the scenario:

Lets say your driving a car at a moderate speed, 40 mph, and you stick your hand out the window, and you're holding a tennis ball, and you drop it. For what reason does it "fly" back?

Ok, now the same scenario, but there is no air resistance, what happens when you drop the ball?

Thanks for the help.
Ziad Ramman
 
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Dio. said:
Lets say your driving a car at a moderate speed, 40 mph, and you stick your hand out the window, and you're holding a tennis ball, and you drop it. For what reason does it "fly" back?
The ball appears to "fly back" with respect to you in the car due to the air exerting a force that opposes its motion, thus slowing it. (Viewed from the road instead of the car, the ball would go forward with an initial speed equal to that of the car, but be quickly slowed by the air.)

Ok, now the same scenario, but there is no air resistance, what happens when you drop the ball?
It maintains its horizontal speed alongside the car. (It drops to the ground, of course.)
 
yeah

The reason it so called flys back is that you in your car are moving at 40 mph. Now the ball while in your hand is moving 40 mph. When you let it go the ball then quickly decelerates due to friction and air resistance. so the ball slows down and you keep going your 40 mph. Now with no air resistance i think that means there are no frictional forces acting on the ball. This means that the ball will then travel with you until it hits the ground and then it will fly back due to it just hit the ground and lowerd its speed. In the end it is actually kinda you flying forward than it flying back.
 
You can experience it if you loosely hold your hands out of your car. Your hands will fly back due to air resistance. But - BE CAREFUL

Resnick Halliday is the book which as far as I have read the one which gives a good explanation about air resistance.
 

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