[LeGrande]

So the real question is "If you were on a merry go around, rotating 10 degrees in the time it would take your bullet to reach the stationary duck, how far would you have to lead?"

And the answer is: If the duck is moving, then yes, you have to lead. But if both you and the duck are in place and not moving, except the platform you are standing on is rotating, then you do not need to lead because the instant the bullet leaves your barrel, it'll travel in a straight line to the duck. (Assuming, of course, that the tip of your barrel is over the center of the merry go around.)

Why don't you go and do the experiment with your kid, except use a ball instead of shooting him : ) In fact why don't you use a camcorder and demonstrate where the animation is wrong?

[mrjesse]

Said LeGrande:Why don't you go and do the experiment with your kid, except use a ball instead of shooting him : ) In fact why don't you use a camcorder and demonstrate where the animation is wrong?

The animation is correct! And the animation demonstrates that the thrower does not lead on the catcher as the catcher appears to go flying by.

But if you now tell me that the animation is wrong, then I'll be glad to set up an experiment on a merry go around, video it, and publish the video. But you gotta tell me that the animation you linked to is wrong, first :=)

-Jesse