Suppose you place a basket ball in the middle of the floor of a jeepney parked on a level road.?

Question

If the jeepney accelerates forward, describe the motion of the ball relative to:

a. the ground

b. the jeepney

Answer 1

a. From the viewpoint of the ground, the ball doesn't go anywhere, while the jeep accelerates forward, leaving the ball behind.

b. From the viewpoint of the jeep, the ball and trees are accelerating backwards, and the jeep isn't moving.

Answer 2

If no other forces such as friction between floor of the jeepney and the ball are present, then,

a): Relative to the ground, the ball remain stationary. Actually, the floor slips under the ball leaving the ball at its own position relative to the ground.

b): Relative to jeepney the ball accelerate backward.

Answer 3

a) relative to the ground the ball would not be moving, it would be stationary.

b) relative to the jeepney, the ball would be moving backwards because the jeepney is accelerating forwards.