Chapter 1: Problem 26
The hallmark of an inertial reference frame is that any object which is subject to zero net force will travel in a straight line at constant speed. To illustrate this, consider the following: I am standing on a level floor at the origin of an inertial frame \(\mathcal{S}\) and kick a frictionless puck due north across the floor. (a) Write down the \(x\) and \(y\) coordinates of the puck as functions of time as seen from my inertial frame. (Use \(x\) and \(y\) axes pointing east and north respectively.) Now consider two more observers, the first at rest in a frame \(\mathcal{S}^{\prime}\) that travels with constant velocity \(v\) due east relative to \(\mathcal{S},\) the second at rest in a frame \(\mathcal{S}^{\prime \prime}\) that travels with constant acceleration due east relative to \(\mathcal{S}\). (All three frames coincide at the moment when I kick the puck, and \(\mathcal{S}^{\prime \prime}\) is at rest relative to \(\mathcal{S}\) at that same moment.) (b) Find the coordinates \(x^{\prime}, y^{\prime}\) of the puck and describe the puck's path as seen from \(\mathcal{S}^{\prime} .\) (c) Do the same for \(\mathcal{S}^{\prime \prime}\) Which of the frames is inertial?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.