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 above choices are correct. I thought it was C, but it isn't.

Question

Physics

Tamia Jacobs

Today, 06:55

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 above choices are correct. I thought it was C, but it isn't.

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Garrett Herrera · Answer 1

B

Explanation:

The sailor, the boat and the wrench are all moving at he same constant rate, so the wrench will appear to fall straight down.

This means that all are at rest relative to each other (relative velocity is Zero) Therefore, the wrench will appear to fall straight down, same as free falling a ball from the top of a building.