Projectile Motion: Ball A vs. Ball B - Which Reaches Ground First?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

In the discussion on projectile motion, it is established that two balls, A and B, released from the same height h, will reach the ground simultaneously despite ball B being given a horizontal force. The horizontal motion does not influence the vertical descent time, as both balls experience the same gravitational acceleration. The concept of treating vertical and horizontal motions separately is emphasized, allowing for a clearer understanding of projectile trajectories, particularly when analyzing different angles of launch.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly Newton's laws of motion.
  • Familiarity with projectile motion and the effects of gravity.
  • Knowledge of vector components in physics.
  • Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations involving distance, velocity, and time.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the equations of motion for vertical and horizontal components in projectile motion.
  • Learn how to calculate the trajectory of a projectile launched at an angle using kinematic equations.
  • Explore the effects of air resistance on projectile motion and how it alters flight time.
  • Investigate real-world applications of projectile motion in sports and engineering.
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching projectile motion concepts, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of motion under gravity.

physio
Messages
68
Reaction score
1
A ball A is released from rest at a height of h and another ball B is provided with a horizontal force at the same height h. Both the balls fall to the ground. Which ball will reach the ground first?

Doesn't ball A reach the ground first because the ball B is applied with a horizontal force and so will remain in air for a longer time...?

Do they both fall to the ground at the same time??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
They both fall to the ground at the same time. A force applied in the horizontal direction doesn't affect its motion in the vertical direction.
 
yes but how and why... doesn't it defy conventional wisdom that it will be away from the ground for a longer time?
 
physio said:
yes but how and why... doesn't it defy conventional wisdom that it will be away from the ground for a longer time?

Because the ball that goes away has initial "away" speed. Time for both are equal but the one with "away" property will perform better. It has added capability to go down and away.
 
What do you mean by:-

Time for both are equal but the one with "away" property will perform better. It has added capability to go down and away.

I don't understand...
 
I guess your understanding is that the body has to go down to the ground AND then move forward. So your reasoning that it need more time for 2 motions.

The body can do 2 jobs at a time.
In 1 sec, it can go down and that within that interval also it goes forward.
So if you find a value that it goes down, that interval also it does another job, moving forward.

I call it Multitasking.
 
k thanks..got what you meant! :)
 
If you really wanted to you could write equations for the distance the two balls travel through the air and their velocity. The one given a horizontal push obviously travels further through the air (in a curved path) but it also moves faster through the air due to the extra force acting on it. If you then worked out Time = distance/velocity you would find the extra velocity and extra distance "cancel" so the total time of flight is the same and both balls hit the ground together (ignoring air resistance).

However the maths is a lot easier if you realize that you can work out the vertical and horizontal components separately! This trick can even be used where the horizontal push isn't exactly horizontal. In that case you would work out what the vertical and horizontal components of the push were and then solve the equations for vertical and horizontal motion separately. Obviously in this case the balls would not reach the ground at the same time.

The classic school homework question involves a cannon pointed up at some angle and asks you to work out how far the ball will go. Again the way to approach it it to write separate equations for the vertical and horizontal motion. Remembering that as the ball reaches peak altitude the vertical component of it's velocity is zero and that the flight time both vertically and horizontally is the same.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Undergrad Different Equations of Motion for different frames
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
4K
High School How to characterize a rubber ball moving horizontally and bouncing off of a vertical wall?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Projectile motion problems with No horizontal acceleration
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
18K
High School Conservation of Energy: Ball on a U-Shaped Ramp
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
804
Graduate Can a Spinning Astronaut Use a Tethered Bowling Ball to Gain Motion in Space?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Maximum velocity for projectile motion?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K
Undergrad How weather conditions affect a golf shot
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Graduate Path of a projectile with a non-constant gravity
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School Why do balls of different sizes fall at different speeds in oil?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
7K
A ball is thrown w/initial speed vi at an angle 𝜃i with the horizontal
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K