A 2 kg ball and a 10 kg ball are dropped simultaneously from the same height. Ignoring air resistance, which one hits the ground FIRST?
ANeither — they float
BBoth hit the ground simultaneously — gravitational acceleration is the same regardless of mass
CThe 2 kg ball — it is lighter
DThe 10 kg ball — heavier objects fall faster
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Both hit the ground simultaneously — gravitational acceleration is the same regardless of mass
This is one of the most famous results in physics, attributed to Galileo. In a vacuum (or ignoring air resistance), all objects fall with the same acceleration g — regardless of their mass. So both balls take the same time. The reason: F = ma, and the gravitational force F = mg is proportional to mass, so a = g cancels out the mass dependence. (In air, a leaf falls slower than a stone — but that's due to air resistance, not gravity.)
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