Question

If a golf ball and a baseball are dropped in the absence of air resistance, which ball will hit the ground first?
(5 points)
the baseball
• the golf ball
O they will hit at the same time
If a feather and a baseball are dropped in the presence of air resistance, which ball will hit the ground first? (5 points)
• the baseball
O they will hit at the same time
• the feather

Answer 1

1) In the absence of air resistance: they will hit at the same time.
Reason: gravitational acceleration is the same for all objects, so fall time is independent of mass.

2) In the presence of air resistance: the baseball will hit first.
Reason: air drag slows the feather much more relative to its weight, so the feather falls more slowly (lower terminal velocity) while the heavier baseball reaches the ground sooner.