Dropping Balls From Same Height

This demonstration shows that all objects fall at the same rate under gravity regardless of their mass. Two balls of different sizes dropped at the same time hit the floor together. When one ball is dropped vertically and the other is tossed horizontally from the same height, they still land at the same time.

1. Hold a medicine ball and a softball at the same height above the floor.
2. Drop both balls simultaneously and observe that they hit the ground together.
3. Next, hold two identical balls at the same height.
4. Drop one ball straight down while tossing the other horizontally at the same instant.
5. Observe that both balls land at the same time (though it may be hard to see clearly by eye).

Falling Balls | A Moment of Science | PBS:

📄 Physics Force - University of Minnesota: https://physicsforce.umn.edu/content/ball-drop

• Use a timing device or video recording to measure more precisely when each ball lands.
• Try dropping objects of very different masses (e.g., a basketball and a tennis ball).
• Use a release mechanism to eliminate human timing error.
• Perform outdoors from a greater height for a more dramatic effect.

• Ensure the demonstration area is clear of people and fragile objects.
• Do not throw heavy balls with excessive force to avoid injury.
• Use soft or rubber balls if working in a classroom setting to reduce risk.

• Why do the two balls hit the floor at the same time even though one is heavier? (Because gravity accelerates all objects equally, regardless of mass.)
• Why doesn’t horizontal motion affect the time it takes for the ball to hit the ground? (Because horizontal and vertical motions are independent of each other.)
• What forces act on the balls once released? (Only gravity acts vertically; air resistance can be ignored for simple classroom demonstrations.)
• How does this experiment illustrate Galileo’s principle of falling bodies? (It shows that acceleration due to gravity is constant for all objects in free fall.)