A toy cart has a vertical tube that can launch a ball with initial speed v_b rel

Question

A toy cart has a vertical tube that can launch a ball with initial speed v_b relative to the cart. The cart is placed on an inclined plane that makes an angle theta with the horizontal. The cart is rolling down the plane, and launches the ball when the cart is moving with speed v_c. The cart continues to roll down the plane. Where does the ball land relative to the cart? In other words, does it land on the cart, in front of it, or behind it, and by how much. Hint: Think carefully about the initial velocity of the ball, remembering that the cart is moving when the ball is launched.

Explanation / Answer

instead of a cart accelerating down a plane, imagine an accelerating car. if you toss a ball upwards in a car moving at constant speed, it will go straight up, then straight down. in an accelerating car, if you toss a ball upwards, it will fly back in your face!. but with this type of situation, you can imagine that the ball is accelerating along with the rest of the car after you have thrown it. if you decompose the gravity vector into components parallel and perpendicular to the surface of the plane you will see that the ball accelerates parallel to the surface of the plane at the same rate as the cart. this should be enough to answer your question. if you need more help, or want me to check your answer, send me a message

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.