Ball and gravitational force question

In summary, two metal balls of the same size are released at the same time from a height of 5.0 meters towards the ground, with one ball weighing twice as much as the other. During their fall, the Earth exerts an equal gravitational force on both balls, while the heavier ball exerts a force on the Earth that is twice as large as the force exerted by the lighter ball. Two of the statements are false, as the lighter ball does not start out moving faster and the heavy ball does not have an acceleration half as large as the lighter ball.
  • #1
Melchior25
30
0

Homework Statement


Two metal balls are the same size but one weighs twice as much as the other. The balls are both released simultaneously from a height of 5.0 meters towards the ground. Which of the following must be true about the balls during the time they are falling? (Select all that apply.)

False The lighter ball starts out moving faster than the heavier ball.

False The heavy ball has an acceleration half as large as the lighter ball.

False The Earth exerts a gravitational force on the heavy ball that is twice as large as that on the lighter ball.

Ture The Earth exerts an equal gravitational force on both balls.

True The heavy ball exerts a force on the Earth that is twice as large as the force on the Earth exerted by the lighter ball.

Could someone please double check my answers and let me know if I got any wrong.

Thanks
 
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  • #2
You've got two of them wrong.
 
  • #3
Yes, I think you need to think about the difference between force and acceleration
 
  • #4
And maybe remind yourself of the definition of weight ...
 

Related to Ball and gravitational force question

1. What is the relationship between ball and gravitational force?

The gravitational force between a ball and the Earth is directly proportional to the mass of the ball and the mass of the Earth. This means that the larger the mass of the ball or the Earth, the greater the gravitational force between them.

2. How does the weight of a ball affect its gravitational force?

The weight of a ball is directly related to its mass and the strength of the gravitational force acting on it. If you increase the weight of a ball, the gravitational force between it and the Earth will also increase.

3. What is the acceleration due to gravity for a falling ball?

The acceleration due to gravity for a falling ball is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared. This means that the ball will accelerate towards the Earth at a rate of 9.8 meters per second every second.

4. How does the distance between a ball and the Earth affect the gravitational force between them?

The distance between a ball and the Earth has an inverse relationship with the gravitational force between them. This means that as the distance increases, the gravitational force decreases. For example, if you double the distance between a ball and the Earth, the gravitational force will be one-fourth of its original strength.

5. Can the gravitational force acting on a ball be affected by other objects?

Yes, the gravitational force acting on a ball can be affected by other objects that have mass. This is because all objects with mass have a gravitational pull, and the strength of their gravitational force depends on their mass and distance from the ball.

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