Question

Taylor Classical Mechanics: In Section 9.8, we discussed the path of an object that is dropped from a very tall step ladder above the equator. (a) Sketch this path as seen from a tower to the north of the drop and fixed to the earth. Explain why the object lands to the east of its point of release. (b) Sketch the same experiment as seen by an inertial observer floating in space to the north of the drop. Explain clearly (from this point of view) why the object lands to the east of its point of release. [Hint: The object's angular momentum about the earth's center is conserved. This means the object's angular velocity changes as it falls.]

Answer 1