If a rock is dropped from the top of a sailboat's mast,?

Question

willl it hit the deck at the same point wether the boat is at rest or in motion at a constant velocity?

Answer 1

Assuming there is no wind (like dropping the rock behind a windscreen) the rock should hit the same place regardless of the motion (or lack thereof) of the boat.

The rock is initially traveling at the same speed the boat is, just by being on the boat. So when you are holding it its going just as fast as the boat is. When you drop it, it will continue traveling forward with the boat at the same time it's falling.

Answer 2

At the same point.

Answer 3

If you assume the sailboat is on smooth rollers rather than in the ocean, and is being pulled through a vacuum... then yes it hits the same point regardless of whether it is in rest or in motion.

But .. the fact that you were asked about a sailboat, rather than the inside of a car, say, tells me that these are totally bogus assumptions.  A sailboat moves because wind fills its sails.  So surely you cannot neglect wind / wind resistance.  Even with no wind, there will be drag caused by the motion of the boat through still air that will cause the rock to drop differently.  

Finally, I've never been on a boat that does not rock side to side, even if travelling at a constant velocity.  This will give the rock some lateral motion with respect to the deck.

Really, you should not be throwing rocks on a sailboat.  It could hit someone and cause them to fall overboard.

Answer 4

yes.. with no wind or anything.. an object in motion