Question

an observer sees an airplane flying at a fast, constant speed along a straight path. however, a passenger inside the airplane feels that they are not moving at all. what explains the difference between what the observer is seeing and what the passenger is feeling?

a. the acceleration of the observer is in the opposite direction of the motion of the airplane, so the net force on the observer is decreasing.
b. the observer is moving at the same velocity as the plane, so the net force on the observer is zero.
c. the passenger is moving at the same speed as the plane, so the net force on the passenger is zero.
d. the acceleration of the passenger is in the same direction as the motion of the airplane, so the net force on the passenger is increasing.

Explanation:

The passenger is in the non - accelerating frame of the airplane moving at a constant speed. According to Newton's first law, an object moving at a constant velocity has zero net force acting on it. Since the passenger is moving at the same speed as the plane, the net force on the passenger is zero, which is why the passenger feels like they are not moving.

Answer:

C. The passenger is moving at the same speed as the plane, so the net force on the passenger is zero.