Question

magine that two balls, a basketball and a much larger exercise ball, are dropped from a parking garage. If both the mass and radius of the exercise ball are 3 times larger than the mass and radius of the basketball, which of the two balls do you think will reach the ground first? Make a hypothesis below and describe your reasoning.

Answer 1

Without counting wind resistance, They will both reach the ground at the same time. If we apply the concept of kinematics, such as the equation vf^2=vi^2 + 2ad. This equation doesn't count how big or how heavy the mass is, it only focuses on how fast where they in the start and how far are both of them from the ground. So if they both have the same distance and same initial veloctity, then they will reach the ground at the same time.

For example, Try dropping a pen and a paper(Vertically) at the same height, you'll see they'll reach the ground at the same time.

If you count wind resistance, the heavier ball will hit the ground faster, because the air molecules will resist the lighter ball compared to the heavier ball.