Two small heavy balls have the same diameter but one weighs twice as much as the other. The balls are dropped from a second-story balcony at the exact same time. The time to reach the ground below will be ... (a) twice as long for the lighter ball as for the heavier one.

(b) longer for the lighter ball, but not twice as long.

(c) twice as long for the heavier ball as for the lighter one.

(d) longer for the heavier ball, but not twice as long.

(e) nearly the same for both balls.

Question

Physics

Shane Hays

20 February, 02:58

Two small heavy balls have the same diameter but one weighs twice as much as the other. The balls are dropped from a second-story balcony at the exact same time. The time to reach the ground below will be ... (a) twice as long for the lighter ball as for the heavier one.

(b) longer for the lighter ball, but not twice as long.

(c) twice as long for the heavier ball as for the lighter one.

(d) longer for the heavier ball, but not twice as long.

(e) nearly the same for both balls.

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Dean Bauer · Answer 1

Look through your class notes and your textbook and check out all the formulas and equations for the distance, speed and acceleration of falling objects. You won't find the weight of the object in any of those formulas because it doesn't matter. Without air resistance, all objects fall with the same speed and acceleration. If two objects are dropped from the same height at the same time, they both hit the ground at the same time. It doesn't matter what either one weighs. One can be a feather and the other one can be a school bus. Without air resistance it doesn't matter.

The answer is choice - (e).