Question

A sailor drops a wrench from the top of a sailboat's vertical mast while the boat is moving rapidly and steadily straight forward. Where will the wrench hit the deck?

(a) ahead of the base of the mast

(b) at the base of the mast

(c) behind the base of the mast

(d) on the windward side of the base of the mast

(e) None of the choices (a) through (d) is true.

Short answer

The wrench will hit the base of the mast

Option (b) is true.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Define Relative speed.

Its Relative Speed with respect to another item is the velocity of one object as measured from another object. The relative values are highly dependent on the type of reference frame used.

Explanation

When a sailor throws a wrench from the vertical mast of a sailboat, the boat moves quickly and steadily straight forward.

The relative speed can be used to conceptualise the wrench's motion.

The wrench moves at the same rate as the sailor in relation to the boat's speed.

This means that everything is at rest (relative velocity is zero). As a result, the wrench will appear to fall straight down, just like a ball dropping from the top of a building.

As a result, Option (b) is correct: the wrench will strike the mast's base.