Final answer:
When dropping a straight cup with a ball inside, the orientation of the cup affects the behavior of the ball. If the cup is facing downwards, the ball will rise due to the buoyant force. If the cup is facing upwards, the ball will experience a soft landing due to surface tension.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dropping a straight cup of water with a ball within it, the ball will experience different forces depending on the orientation of the cup and the ball. If the cup and ball are dropped together with the cup facing downwards, the water inside the cup will exert a force on the ball, causing it to rise towards the surface of the water. This is because the buoyant force acting on the ball is greater than its weight.
On the other hand, if the cup and ball are dropped with the cup facing upwards, the water will remain inside the cup due to surface tension. In this case, the ball will undergo a deceleration as it approaches the surface of the water, resulting in a soft landing without bouncing back.
In conclusion, when dropping a straight cup of water with a ball within it, it is advised to avoid dropping it with the cup facing upwards, as the ball may not bounce and could potentially get wet.