Which Ball Would Hit The Ground First A Golf Ball Or A Tennis Ball Dropped From The Same Distance

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10 Answers

Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Listen everyone!  If there is no air, then gravity is the only force acting on the objects.  Therefore all objects would accelerate at the same speed (9.8 meters/second/second) and would hit the ground at the same time.  However, on Earth, air resistance (friction) affects all objects in a direction opposite its motion, so if some objects are more affected by friction, then they would fall slower.  A beach ball and a bowling ball would not hit the ground at the same time for this reason.  If you would like to see a bowling ball and beach ball hit the ground at the same time, go to the moon!
I hope this helps.
Sir Isaac Newton
John Nawrocki Profile
John Nawrocki answered
Since the acceleration due to gravity is a constant for all objects, no matter what their mass, that means that all objects fall at the same rate—assuming the effect of air resistance is negligible. This is counterintuitive, since you would expect a heavy object to fall faster than an object that weighed less. But it is a fact. Try dropping two objects at the same time, from the same height, making sure they are heavy enough not to be affected by air resistance. You will see they hit the ground at the same time.
Sulehir Manarian Profile
Assuming the balls were dropped from a great enough height to attain their respective terminal velocities the golf ball would hit the ground first. This is because the tennis ball has a larger surface area (and is usually rougher) which means it will create more drag which will cause more air resistance which will result in a lower terminal velocity.
thanked the writer.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
you don't know what you are talking about they hit the ground at the same time you Moran
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
No, he is actually right. If you do acknowledge air resistance, then the golf ball would travel faster and hit the ground first because. Since the tennis ball has a large surface area, this causes more air resistance. This higher air resistance on the tennis ball will cause it to travel at a lower terminal velocity than the golf ball. However, if you neglect air resistance, then both the tennis and golf ball with fall and reach the ground at the same time. By the way, you spelled "moron" wrong.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
It all depends on from how high you drop them. But you ALWAYS need to take the drag force into account.

Yes both balls will have the same downward acceleration due to the gravitational force, but they will have different upward accelerations due to drag.

F = ma
F = m(g - d) = where d is the upward drag force.

Based on the above, the RESULTANT force on each ball would be different, even if they were the same mass, and the resultant force is what creates the downward acceleration.

It's not as simple as liner equations because drag force varies based on velocity, so some integration would be required.
Charles Wright Profile
Charles Wright answered

The heavy ball will fall first than the lighter one only if there is air resistance. In a vacuum, both the objects will fall at the same time. In practical conditions, there will be an air resistance and hence the tennis ball will fall first. The foremost example of this concept is the Feather Vs ball. 

Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Golf ball
Aisha Profile
Aisha answered
The ball that have more mass or more density will hit the ground first. That is because it will acquire more speed when removed to hit the ground. It is like comparing a bundle of cotton and a bundle of stone.

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