If a stone is dropped from a balloon on a still day, does the stone fall directly below the balloon, or to the west or east of it?

(In reply to re: Relativity by Sam)

Under Newtonian laws, I'm sure that I'd be correct, and I feel that the "relative" environment of an observer on Earth to these objects is contained and expressed by Bob Smith (More Thoughts):

"In the earth's inertial reference frame (the one we live in) it should fall directly beneath the balloon."

Guardedly, I feel comfortable with the Newtonian model, which Bob Smith is expressing. 

And because of the inertia to which Bob refers, I did not forget such factors as I believed them to be part of the Earth observer's system (and therefore non-factors). 

Posted by brianjn on 2005-07-08 12:55:07