Comparing Heights: Billiard Ball vs Tennis Ball

Explanation:

Law of Conservation of Energy: The law of conservation of energy is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time. In the case of the billiard ball and the tennis ball scenario, this law comes into play.

Energy Requirement: Since the billiard ball has twice the mass of the tennis ball, it requires twice as much energy to reach the same height when tossed straight up into the air. This means that the same amount of energy that can lift the tennis ball to a certain height can only lift the billiard ball half as high due to the increased mass.

Comparing Heights: When comparing the heights reached by the billiard ball and the tennis ball, the billiard ball would go only half as high as the tennis ball. This is a direct consequence of the difference in mass between the two objects. The heavier object (billiard ball) requires more energy to reach the same height as the lighter object (tennis ball).

In conclusion, the billiard ball with twice the mass of the tennis ball would go only half as high when tossed into the air with the same amount of energy. Understanding the principles of energy conservation and mass helps explain the relationship between the heights reached by objects of different masses.

← A car s acceleration calculation Determining forces and reactions in a truss structure →