Question

At the instant a ball is fired horizontally over a level range, a ball held at the side of the first is released and drops to the ground. If air resistance can be neglected, which ball – the one threw or the one dropped from rest – strikes the ground first? Why?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The ball that dropped to the ground instead of being thrown will fall first since it only has one force pushing it: gravity.

The other ball has momentum from the horizontal throw so it's fighting against the gravity of the earth to keep going forward. Therefore, the ball dropped instead of thrown is the one that will strike the ground first.

Answer 2

They hit the ground at the same time