Question

dropping balls
reggie has three different types of balls. each ball is about the same size.
ball 1 is a wooden ball. its mass is 28 g.
ball 2 is a golf ball. its mass is 46 g.
ball 3 is a metal ball. its mass is 110 g.
reggie held his arm out and dropped the three balls at the same time from the same height. in what order will the balls hit the floor? circle your prediction:
prediction a: ball 1, then ball 2, then ball 3.
prediction b: ball 3, then ball 2, then ball 1.
prediction c: ball 2, then ball 3, then ball 1.
prediction d: all three balls will hit the floor at about the same time.
prediction e: ball 3 will hit first, followed by ball 1 and ball 2 hitting the floor at the same time.
explain your thinking. what “rule” or reasoning did you use to make your prediction?

Explanation:

In the absence of significant air resistance (since the balls are similar in size), the acceleration due to gravity acts equally on all objects regardless of their mass. This means all objects dropped from the same height will reach the ground at approximately the same time.

Answer:

D: All three balls will hit the floor at about the same time.