a heavy crate accidentally falls from high flying plane just as it flies directly above a shiny red car parked in a lot. relative to the car, where does the crate crash?
some distance away, in the direction of the plane flight.
extra credit: does it matter whether the crate went overboard accidentally?
To determine where the crate will crash relative to the car, we need to consider a few factors:
1. Initial Velocity: The crate's velocity when it initially falls from the plane.
2. Time: The duration it takes for the crate to fall to the ground.
3. Air Resistance: Whether or not air resistance affects the crate's trajectory significantly.
Without specific values for these variables, we can make a few observations to provide a general explanation.
Assuming there is no horizontal movement of the plane, the crate will continue moving in a downward direction due to gravity. Since the car is stationary, it will remain directly below the point where the crate detaches from the plane.
Without air resistance, the crate will fall straight down, and if the car remains stationary, the crate will hit the car. However, air resistance can cause the crate's trajectory to deviate slightly. Air resistance depends on factors like the crate's shape and size, as well as atmospheric conditions, which are not provided.
Therefore, the precise point of impact relative to the car cannot be determined without specific values for the variables mentioned above.