You are driving $5 \mathrm{ft}$ or so behind a pickup truck (don't actually try such a stupid tailgating stunt, of course!). A jostled crate tips off the back of the truck with only a very small backward velocity. The crate will not hit your car until after it hits the road, regardless of your speed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the crate falls off the truck, it initially shares the forward velocity of the truck. Due to inertia, it continues moving forward as it falls. Your car, moving at a similar speed, will not reach the point where the crate lands until after the crate has already hit the road, because both the crate and your car are moving forward at similar speeds.

You Are Driving 5ft5 \mathrm{ft}5ft Or So Behind a Pickup Truck (Don't Actually Try Such

You Are Driving $5 \mathrm{ft}$ Or So Behind a Pickup Truck (Don't Actually Try Such