Q102
General SciencePhysics
A bomb is dropped at a point from a moving aeroplane. The pilot observes that
- a.the bomb traverses a curved path and falls some distance behind that point
- b.the bomb traverses a curved path and falls some distance ahead
- c.the bomb drops vertically downward
- d.the bomb remains stationary in the air for some time
Answer: (A) the bomb traverses a curved path and falls some distance behind that point
This is a classic physics question best understood in two stages. If air resistance is ignored, the bomb keeps the same constant horizontal velocity as the plane (Newton's first law), so it stays directly below the aircraft throughout its fall — the pilot would see it drop straight down. In the realistic case with air resistance, the bomb (unpowered) loses horizontal speed faster than the aircraft (whose engines keep it at constant speed), so it steadily lags behind the plane's advancing position — the pilot sees it trace a curved path and land some distance behind, not ahead.