Question

When using a ballistic cart to shoot a small ball into the air, why does the cart always catch the ball, and the ball doesn't fall behind the moving cart?

A) The cart has a stronger gravitational pull than the ball.
B) The cart has a higher air resistance than the ball.
C) Both the cart and the ball experience the same acceleration due to gravity.
D) The cart has a lower initial velocity than the ball.

Answer 1

The cart catches the ball because both the cart and ball experience the same acceleration due to gravity, moving horizontally at the same rate, resulting in the ball landing back in the cart.

Step-by-step explanation:

When using a ballistic cart to shoot a small ball into the air, the reason the cart always catches the ball and the ball doesn't fall behind the moving cart is C) Both the cart and the ball experience the same acceleration due to gravity. The ballistic cart and the ball both start with the same initial velocity and while in the air, gravity is acting on them equally which ensures they both travel the same horizontal distance at the same rate. Thus, when the ball comes down, it does so back into the moving cart, assuming no significant air resistance or other forces act differently on the cart and the ball.