Question

A lightweight ball is thrown horizontally. What forces act on the ball just after being released from the thrower's hand, and how do these forces influence the motion of the ball?

Answer 1

When a lightweight ball is thrown horizontally, the main forces acting on it are gravity and the normal force. These forces influence the ball's motion by causing it to accelerate downwards and providing the necessary centripetal force for its circular path.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a lightweight ball is thrown horizontally, there are two main forces acting on it just after it is released from the thrower's hand. The first force is the force of gravity, which pulls the ball downwards. The second force is the normal force, which is exerted by the surface the ball is in contact with.

These forces influence the motion of the ball in the following ways:

1. The force of gravity causes the ball to accelerate downwards, which means the vertical component of its velocity increases over time.
2. The normal force is responsible for providing the centripetal force necessary for the ball to move in a circular path. Since the ball is moving horizontally, the normal force must be equal to the force of gravity, but acting in the horizontal direction.