Question

Two children are throwing a ball back-and-forth straight across the back seat of a car. The ball is being thrown 7 mph relative to the car, and the car is travelling 45 mph down the road. If one child doesn't catch the ball and it flies out the window, in what direction does the ball fly (ignoring wind resistance)

Answer 1

the ball will fly in AX direction, making angle of 8.84° from the motion of the car

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the data in the question and as illustrated in the diagram below;

Now, Lets assume line AB represent the movement of the car,

AC is the movement of the ball been thrown back and forth in the back seat

Ax is the motion of the ball it flies off the window

so from the diagram, We can see triangle ABC

where AB is 45 mph and AC = 7 mph

and angle ∠CAB = 90°

using SOH CAH TOA

TOA; tanθ = Opposite / Adjacent

tanθ = Opposite / Adjacent

tan( ∠ ABC ) = AC / AB

we substitute

tan( ∠ ABC ) = 7 / 45

tan( ∠ ABC ) = 0.15555

( ∠ ABC ) = tan⁻¹ 0.15555

( ∠ ABC ) = 8.84°

Therefor, angle ( ∠ ABC ) is 8.84°

Meaning angle ( ∠ XAA' ) is also 8.84°

Therefore, the ball will fly in AX direction, making angle of 8.84° from the motion of the car