Final answer:
The motion of the experimental vehicle and the ball thrown straight upward and then falls back to Earth differ in terms of the vehicle's constant acceleration, independent of its velocity, and the direction of motion. The experimental vehicle experiences horizontal motion and its acceleration is either positive or negative depending on the direction of motion. The ball's motion is vertical and it experiences changing acceleration as it slows down and then speeds up.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the motion of an experimental vehicle that reverses direction with a ball thrown straight upward and then falls back to Earth, there are a few key differences.
Firstly, the experimental vehicle experiences constant acceleration throughout the entire motion, both when slowing down and speeding up. This is because the vehicle's acceleration is independent of its velocity. On the other hand, the ball thrown upward experiences a changing acceleration. Initially, the ball's acceleration is negative (due to gravity), which causes it to slow down and eventually come to a halt. Then, as it falls back to Earth, the ball's acceleration is positive, causing it to speed up.
Secondly, the motion of the experimental vehicle is horizontal, whereas the motion of the ball is vertical. The experimental vehicle's acceleration is directed either towards the positive or negative x-axis, depending on the direction of its motion. In contrast, the ball's acceleration is always directed downward, towards the center of the Earth.