Question

A cloud of dirt falls from the bed of a moving truck. It strikes the ground directly below the end of the truck. What is the direction of its velocity relative to the truck just before it hits? Is this the same as the direction of its velocity relative to ground just before it hits? Explain your answers.

Short answer

The rate of change of the displacement is called the velocity of the object, which is a vector quantity. So, it has both magnitude and direction.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of velocity

The velocity of the item, which is a vector quantity, is the rate of change of the displacement. As a result, it possesses both magnitude and direction.

The truck was moving, and the clod of dirt fell from it. Also, the dirt and the truck were moving together with the same velocity, and suddenly the dirt fell.

Now, there is a force on the dirt, which is due to gravity acting downwards.

Determining horizontal velocity

The horizontal velocity of the dirt will not change until it hits the ground, as there is no acceleration in the horizontal direction.

But the vertical velocity keeps on increasing as there is a downward acceleration.