Water Flow in Free Fall: Observing the Equivalence Principle

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When a container of water with a hole is in free fall, the water behaves differently than when at rest. An observer at the bottom of the mine would see the water flowing out of the hole curve upward, as both the container and the water are falling at the same rate. This phenomenon illustrates the equivalence principle, where the effects of gravity are indistinguishable from acceleration. The water's trajectory appears horizontal to the observer due to the lack of relative motion between the water and the container. Thus, the correct answer to the question is that the water curves upward from the observer's perspective.
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Homework Statement


When a container full of water with a small hole in the side is at rest on a table, water flows out of the hole and follows an approximately parabolic arc before hitting the table. Suppose the same container is dropped down a mine shaft so that it is in free fall. Air resistance is negligible. As viewed by an observer standing at the bottom of the mine, the water flow:

a) diminishes
b) stops all together
c) travels in a horizontal straight line
d) curves upward
e) curves downward


Homework Equations



Fg = mg

The Attempt at a Solution



I believe the answer is d), because the water in the cup will be moving down with the cup, and will only release as much water as it would if it wasn't falling. That said, water flowing down would flow up from the perspective of the observer at the bottom of the mine, right?
 
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