Question
upstudy study bank question image url

A large ball with larger mass is rolled off a table (ignore friction). Then a small ball with
small mass is rolled off the same table at the same speed. Which ball hits the ground
farther away from the table?

Ask by Adkins Barker. in the United States
Jan 10,2025

Upstudy AI Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

Both balls hit the ground at the same distance from the table.

Solution

Sign in to Unlock Answers for Free!

A Learning Platform Trusted by Millions of Real Students and Teachers.

star-icon Unlock

Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor

The Deep Dive

Both balls will hit the ground at the same horizontal distance from the table’s edge! This is due to the fact that the horizontal motion and the vertical motion are independent of one another. Since they both start rolling off the table with the same initial horizontal speed, they will remain in the air for the same amount of time before they land, regardless of their masses.
You might be wondering about air resistance, but in this ideal scenario where we ignore friction and only consider gravity’s effect, the larger mass doesn’t have an advantage. So, they both hit the ground at the same distance— physics is a level playing field for falling objects!

Related Questions

Latest Physics Questions

Try Premium now!
Try Premium and ask Thoth AI unlimited math questions now!
Maybe later Go Premium
Study can be a real struggle
Why not UpStudy it?
Select your plan below
Premium

You can enjoy

Start now
  • Step-by-step explanations
  • 24/7 expert live tutors
  • Unlimited number of questions
  • No interruptions
  • Full access to Answer and Solution
  • Full Access to PDF Chat, UpStudy Chat, Browsing Chat
Basic

Totally free but limited

  • Limited Solution
Welcome to UpStudy!
Please sign in to continue the Thoth AI Chat journey
Continue with Email
Or continue with
By clicking “Sign in”, you agree to our Terms of Use & Privacy Policy