Vertical and Horizontal Motion in Free Fall



 
A2-2 Vertical and horizontal motion in free fall.
Purpose: To demonstrate that rate of vertical fall is independent of horizontal motion.
Description: Shoot a ball horizontally and at the same time drop another ball vertically from the same height. The horizontally-launched ball falls and hits the ground at the same time as the dropped ball. This demonstrates that in free fall, the vertical motion is independent of the horizontal motion.
References:
Equipment: Spring apparatus that shoots one steel ball horizontally at the same time that it drops a second steel ball. In a commercial catalog, this apparatus is referred to as "second law of motion apparatus". Clamp and stand.

If you have any questions or comments please e-mail  demos@media.physics.indiana.edu
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