Projectile Motion: Horizontally Launched Tennis Ball vs Dropped Ball

When a tennis ball is launched horizontally from a tennis ball launcher with a large force and an identical ball is dropped from the same height at the same instant, the question arises as to which ball will hit the ground first. The key concept to understand in this scenario is that vertical motion and horizontal motion are independent of each other, especially when air resistance is not a factor.

Assuming no air resistance, both the horizontally launched tennis ball and the ball dropped from the same height will experience the same gravitational acceleration pulling them towards the ground. This means that the vertical descent of both balls will occur at the same rate, regardless of any horizontal velocity the launched ball may have.

The fact that the horizontally launched ball has an initial horizontal velocity does not affect its vertical motion. This horizontal force does not impact the downward acceleration due to gravity that both balls experience equally. As a result, both balls will reach the ground at the same time, making the answer to the question neither of the options provided.

Understanding projectile motion is essential in grasping why the horizontally launched tennis ball and the dropped ball hit the ground simultaneously in this scenario. The vertical and horizontal components of motion are completely independent of each other, and the effect of gravity acts equally on both.

Therefore, in the absence of air resistance and with the same gravitational acceleration affecting both balls, the horizontally launched tennis ball and the dropped ball will both hit the ground at the same time. This demonstrates the principle that horizontal and vertical motions can be analyzed separately in projectile motion situations.