Phil Physiker standing at the edge of a cliff throws one ball straight up and another ball straight down, both with the same speed. Neglecting air resistance, which ball hits the ground below with the greater speed?
A)the one thrown upward
B)the one thrown downward
C)neither, both hit with the same speed

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Neglecting air resistance, both balls will hit the ground with the same speed. This is because both balls are subject to the same acceleration due to gravity, and the initial speeds (in magnitude) are the same. The one thrown upward loses speed until it momentarily stops at its highest point, then accelerates back down, while the one thrown downward accelerates all the way. However, both will have gained or lost speed at the same rate due to gravity, reaching the same final speed upon impact.

Phil Physiker Standing at the Edge of a Cliff Throws