A rubber ball is dropped from the top of a ladder. It bounces on the same spot on the ground several times, each time to a lesser height than the previous bounce, before coming to rest in place.

Question

A rubber ball is dropped from the top of a ladder. It bounces on the same spot on the ground several times, each time to a lesser height than the previous bounce, before coming to rest in place.

In one or two sentences, explain how the experiment shows the direction that gravity pulls an object, specifically showing that it does not pull an object parallel to the ground.

Answer 1

no sideways motion, so no sideways acceleration

F = ma = 0

Answer 2

i do not know

Answer 3

The experiment with the rubber ball dropping on the same spot on the ground and bouncing to lower heights each time demonstrates that gravity pulls the ball vertically towards the ground, rather than parallel to it.

Answer 4

The experiment shows that gravity pulls an object vertically towards the center of the Earth, not parallel to the ground, as evidenced by the fact that the rubber ball bounces on the same spot on the ground with each subsequent bounce at a lower height.