Question

A ball is thrown horizontally at 30 m/s from a flatcar that is moving in a straight line at 40 m/s. Relative to a person on the ground, what is the horizontal speed of the ball when it is thrown directly sideways?

Answer 1

In the given condition, ball will move forward with the speed of car i.e at a 40 m/s and it will move with the speed of 30 m/s in sideways. So, the horizontal speed of the ball would be the same and which is 30 m/s because the car is moving forward at 40 m/s in forward dorection whereas the ball has been thrown sideways which won't make any gain in the speed of the ball when thrown horizontally from a moving car.

However, the ball will move a little in forward direction with the speed of the car as it is thrown from a moving car and hence, the horizontal speed of the ball when it is thrown sideways would be 30 m/s.

Note:- The speed of the ball would have been different If it would have thrown forward or backwards from a moving car.