Question

A cart moves with a constant speed along a horizontal circular path. From the cart, a particle is thrown up vertically with respect to the cart, the particle will follow:

• A. A parabolic path
• B. A circular path
• C. A linear path
• D. An oscillatory path

Answer 1

The correct option is A

A parabolic path

The explanation for correct option:

Option A

1. The motion of an object that is thrown in the air and is subjected to acceleration due to gravity is known as projectile motion.
2. The object is called a projectile, and the path is called a trajectory.
3. An object that is thrown in the air is always in projectile motion.
4. The trajectory of an object in projectile motion is always a parabola. At first, it goes upward in the direction of force applied to throw it and then gradually moves downward due to gravity.
5. Thus, the particle thrown from the cart will follow a projectile motion.

Explanation for incorrect options

Option B

An object moves in a circular path when it moves along the circumference of the circle. But the path that is followed by the object will be first upwards and then downwards, which is not a circular path. So, this option is incorrect.

Option C

An object moves in a linear path when it moves in a straight line. But the path that is followed by the object will be first upwards and then downwards, which is not a linear path. So, this option is incorrect.

Option D

An object moves in an oscillatory path when it keeps rotating its motion. But the path that is followed by the object will be first upwards and then downwards, after which it will come to rest, which is not an oscillatory path. So, this option is incorrect.

Hence, option A is correct.