A baseball player is running at a constant velocity on a level playing field and tosses a baseball straight up. If the baseball player accelerates forward immediately after tossing the baseball, the baseball will land
Directly in the baseball player's glove.
In front of the baseball player.
Behind the baseball player.
behind, since its horizontal velocity will not change
The baseball will land behind the baseball player. Since the baseball player is running forward with a constant velocity, the horizontal component of their velocity remains unchanged. Therefore, the baseball will continue to move forward with the same horizontal velocity after being tossed. Meanwhile, the baseball will experience a downward acceleration due to gravity. As a result, the baseball will follow a parabolic path and land behind the baseball player.
To determine where the baseball will land, we need to consider the motion of both the baseball player and the baseball.
Since the baseball player is running at a constant velocity, it means that he is not accelerating. Therefore, the baseball player's motion does not affect the vertical motion of the baseball.
When the baseball is tossed straight up, it undergoes projectile motion, influenced by the force of gravity. It will go up to a certain height and then start falling back down.
However, the horizontal motion of the baseball player, whether he accelerates forward or not, has no effect on the vertical motion of the baseball. This is because there are no horizontal forces acting on the baseball.
Therefore, regardless of whether the baseball player accelerates forward or not, the baseball will follow its own parabolic path determined by gravity. It will land in the same spot it would have landed if the baseball player hadn't accelerated - directly back down to the level playing field.
So, the correct answer is:
The baseball will land directly in front of the baseball player, as it would have if the player had not accelerated.