Ballistic Cart Accessory

 Using a @pascoscientific ballistic cart accessory to show that the ball will go back into the cart if the cart is moving at a constant velocity. A lot of fun doing this in class.

If a ball is fired vertically while the cart is moving at a constant velocity, the ball will follow a parabolic trajectory due to the combined effects of gravity and the cart's motion. The path of the ball will be affected by the initial speed at which it was fired, as well as the acceleration due to gravity and the velocity of the cart.

If the ball is fired with a high enough initial speed, it may reach a height greater than the cart's height. In this case, the ball will follow a parabolic trajectory that takes it above the cart, and it will eventually fall back down to the cart due to the force of gravity. If the ball is fired with a lower initial speed, it may not be able to reach a height greater than the cart, and it may simply follow a curved path back into the cart.

It's also worth noting that if the cart is moving at a constant velocity, the ball will experience a constant horizontal acceleration due to the motion of the cart. This means that the ball will constantly accelerate horizontally while in the air, which can affect the shape of its trajectory.