Final answer:
The force acting on a ball rolled off a table and before it hits the floor is solely the force of earth's gravity. The initial force applied to the ball only determines its initial velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a ball leaves a table and before it hits the floor, the forces that act upon it include the force of the earth's gravity pulling it downward. The initial force the ball got from being rolled is important for determining its initial velocity. However, once the ball is in the air and no longer in contact with the rolling surface, this force is no longer applied. Thus, the correct answer is b. Only the force of the earth's gravity on the ball.
When considering Newton's law of universal gravitation, it's important to note that it explains the path of objects such as c. A planet moving around the sun rather than the other objects listed which are influenced by different sets of physical laws and conditions.