Question

this is a conceptual question taken from your book. answer the following for part i: 3. as an apple tree is transported by a truck moving to the right with a constant velocity, one of its apples shakes loose and falls toward the bed of the truck. of the curves shown in figure cq3.13, (i) which best describes the path followed by the apple as seen by a stationary observer on the ground, who observes the truck moving from their left to their right? (ii) which best describes the path as seen by an observer sitting in the truck?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze for stationary observer

The apple has an initial horizontal velocity equal to the truck's velocity and also experiences free - fall in the vertical direction due to gravity. So, it follows a parabolic path.

Step2: Analyze for observer in truck

The observer in the truck is moving with the same horizontal velocity as the apple. So, the apple only appears to fall straight down due to gravity.

Answer:

(i) C. A parabolic curve (path of a projectile with horizontal initial velocity and vertical acceleration due to gravity)
(ii) B. A straight - line vertical path (as there is no relative horizontal motion between the apple and the observer in the truck)