Two Balls Dropped: Same Time Impact?

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In summary, the problem involves a ball being thrown straight up from the edge of a 20m building, followed by a second ball being dropped from the same building 1 second later. The goal is to find the initial speed of the first ball in order for both balls to hit the ground at the same time. The relevant equation is y=yo+vo*t+1/2*a*t^(2). The first ball is thrown at time t = 0 and the second ball is dropped at time t = 1.
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Toranc3
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Homework Statement



A ball is thrown straight up from the edge of the roof of a building. A second ball is dropped from the roof 1 second later. You may ignore air resistance

If the height of the building is 20m what must the nitial speed of the first ball be if both are to hit the ground at the same time?

Homework Equations



y=yo+vo*t+1/2*a*t^(2)

The Attempt at a Solution



I had a question about the wording. So does the first two sentences mean that the first ball is thrown and when it travels for one second the second ball is about to drop? Or the first ball is thrown for some time t that is unknown and then one second after some time t the second ball is about to drop?
Thanks!
 
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Toranc3 said:
I had a question about the wording. So does the first two sentences mean that the first ball is thrown and when it travels for one second the second ball is about to drop?
Yes. At time t = 0 the first ball is thrown. At time t = 1 the second ball is dropped.
Or the first ball is thrown for some time t that is unknown and then one second after some time t the second ball is about to drop?
No.
 
  • #3
Thank you!
 

FAQ: Two Balls Dropped: Same Time Impact?

1. What is the concept behind the experiment of "Two Balls Dropped: Same Time Impact?"

The experiment of "Two Balls Dropped: Same Time Impact" is based on the concept of free fall and the law of gravity. It aims to demonstrate that two objects, regardless of their mass, will fall at the same rate when dropped from the same height.

2. How is the experiment set up?

The experiment requires two identical balls and a platform from which the balls can be released simultaneously. The balls are dropped from the same height and allowed to fall into a container of sand or water to measure the impact.

3. What is the expected outcome of the experiment?

The expected outcome is that both balls will hit the surface at the same time, regardless of their mass. This is because the force of gravity acts equally on both objects, causing them to accelerate at the same rate.

4. What factors could affect the outcome of the experiment?

The main factor that could affect the outcome of the experiment is air resistance. If the experiment is conducted in an environment with a lot of air resistance, the lighter ball may take longer to reach the surface. Other factors that could affect the outcome include the shape and size of the balls, the accuracy of the release, and the surface the balls are dropped onto.

5. What are the real-world applications of this experiment?

This experiment has real-world applications in understanding the fundamental laws of physics and the concept of free fall. It also has practical applications in fields such as engineering and sports, where the understanding of gravity and the effect of mass on falling objects is important.

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