MCQ Detailed View

When a boy throws a ball straight up while sitting in a car moving at a constant speed, the ball will land back in his hand. This happens because of the principle of inertia, a fundamental concept in Newtonian physics. Inertia states that an object in motion continues to move at the same speed and direction unless acted upon by an external force.

Inside the car, the ball already has the same horizontal velocity as the car. When it is thrown upward, it continues moving horizontally along with the car while it rises and falls vertically. From the boy’s perspective inside the car, the ball appears to move straight up and come down into his hand.

This situation is a classic example of relative motion. To an observer outside the car, the ball follows a parabolic path, moving forward with the car as it goes up and down. In contrast, inside the car, the motion seems purely vertical, showing how motion depends on the frame of reference.

This experiment illustrates Newton’s first law of motion, which is also called the law of inertia, and explains why objects in vehicles behave the way they do when the vehicle moves at a constant speed. It is also a practical demonstration of uniform motion and mechanics in everyday life.

Understanding this concept helps students grasp how motion, inertia, and relative velocity work in real-world scenarios. It is an essential topic in Physics, particularly under the study of mechanics and motion. This knowledge is widely applied in science, engineering, and even in understanding everyday phenomena in vehicles, amusement rides, and sports.