An object is thrown upward by a person on a train that moves with constant velocity.
a) Describe the path of the object as seen by the person throwing it b) Describe the path of the object as seen by a stationary observer outside the train?
a) As seen by the person throwing the object on the moving train, the object moves in a straight vertical path. This means that the object goes up and then comes back down in a straight line.
b) As seen by a stationary observer outside the train, the path of the object will appear curved. This is because the observer sees both the vertical motion of the object and the horizontal motion of the train.
To understand this further, let's break down the motion of the object relative to the stationary observer:
1) When the person on the train throws the object upward, it begins to move vertically against the force of gravity. The object will reach a maximum height and then start to descend. This vertical motion is the same for both the person on the train and the observer outside.
2) However, since the train is moving horizontally with constant velocity, the observer also sees the object moving horizontally as it follows the train's motion. This horizontal motion appears curved to the observer since the object continuously adjusts its position to stay above the moving train.
So, from the perspective of the stationary observer, who does not experience the train's horizontal motion, the path of the object appears curved due to its combination of vertical and horizontal motions.