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The Monkey and Zookeeper

Gravity-Free Environment

A GIF Animation

Suppose the zookeeper must shoot the banana from the banana cannon to the monkey who hangs from the limb of a tree. This particular monkey has a habit of dropping from the tree the moment that the banana leaves the muzzle of the cannon. The zookeeper is faced with the dilemna of where to aim the banana cannon in order to hit the monkey. If the monkey lets go of the tree the moment that the banana is fired, then where should she aim the banana cannon? To ponder this question, first consider a scenario in which there is no gravity acting on either the banana or the monkey. What would be the path of the banana? Would the banana hit the monkey?

As is obvious from the animation above, the banana moves in a straight line path in the absence of gravity. As such, a banana aimed directly at the monkey will hit the monkey. In the absence of gravity, the banana moves in a straight line path (and does not experience any downward acceleration) and the monkey does not fall once he lets go of the tree. But what if there were gravity? Where should the zookeeper aim her banana cannon to successfully hit the monkey? Suppose that the zookeeper aims above the monkey's head. Would this lead to success?

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To further study the Monkey and Zookeeper dilemna and see additional animations, click on one of the following links.

• The Monkey and The Zookeeper
  1. Throw at the Monkey in a Gravity Free Environment
  2. Throw above the Monkey with Gravity On
  3. Throw at the Monkey at a Fast Speed with Gravity On
  4. Throw at the Monkey at a Slow Speed with Gravity On

Click on any of the above links to explore the zookeeper's dilemna.

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For more information on physical descriptions of motion, visit The Physics Classroom. Specific information is available there on the following topics:

• Acceleration of Gravity
• Acceleration of Gravity and the Independence of Mass
• Projectiles
• Characteristics of a Projectile's Trajectory

Other animations can be seen at the Multimedia Physics Studios. Other useful resources regarding the physics of motion is available through the Glenbrook South Physics Home Page.

This page was created by Tom Henderson of Glenbrook South High School.

Comments and suggestions can be sent by e-mail to Tom Henderson.

This page last updated on 2/28/97.