Two balls rolling off tables · PhysicsBowl 2025 #2
Physics · mechanics
Problem
Two identical balls A and B are aimed at each other and roll off the edges of two identical horizontal tabletops at exactly the same time. Each ball has sufficient velocity to land under the opposite table, but ball B has a greater initial velocity than ball A. What will happen as they fall?
a. Ball B will pass over the top of ball A as they fall.
b. Ball A will pass over the top of ball B as they fall.
c. The two balls will collide as they fall.
d. The two balls may collide only if their velocities are exactly the right values.
e. Ball B will hit the floor before ball A.