University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 4 - Newton's Laws of Motion - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 124: Q4.38

Answer

You need to check if you are in an inertial reference frame.

Work Step by Step

If you hold a ball in front of you and release it, if it stays in place, your rocketship is moving at constant velocity. If it “falls” toward one of the walls, accelerating as it goes, the direction it accelerates in is opposite to the direction of the rocketship’s acceleration.
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