Table of Contents

Linear Acceleration

Prompts

“What is the trajectory of a ball thrown straight up on the station platform,
as seen by a train going through the station?”

“What if the train is accelerating?”

Context

Estimated Time: 15 minutes, including wrap-up

This SWBQ requires basic familiarity with Newtonian mechanics for constant acceleration. Students are asked to draw the trajectory of a ball thrown straight up on the station platform as seen from a train accelerating through the station, for several values of the (constant) acceleration.

Wrap Up

See this page for further discussion.

Powerpoint slide
PDF slide