Question

Ball A leaves the edge of a level table with speed Va and falls to the floor. At the instant ball A leaves the table edge, another identical ball, B, is released from rest at the height of the table top and also falls to the floor. It is observed that the balls reach the floor at the same time.

Is the kinetic energy of ball B greater than, less than, or equal to the kinetic energy of ball A? Explain your reasoning.

(Also, the impulses are caused by the weights of the balls and they both point straight down with the same magnitude, right? Do they also do equal work and have equal momentum?)

Answer 1

and your thinking is ? Compare the initial KE as a start.

The impulses gained are equal, and they do equal work, and do equal CHANGE in momentum. The final momentums are not equal.