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AS Daily A Level Physics question

2025-10-28 OCR A Foundations of Physics (M2) 3.1.2(a)(i)

In a lab, a student drops two rubber balls of identical size but different masses from the same height. Take g = 9.81 m sāˆ’2 and ignore air resistance. Which statement must be true just before they reach the floor?

  1. A The heavier ball has a greater acceleration because its weight is larger.
  2. B They have the same acceleration (g) and reach the floor with the same speed. (correct)
  3. C The lighter ball has a greater acceleration because it has less inertia.
  4. D The heavier ball takes less time to hit the floor because a larger force acts on it.

Answer

The correct answer is B.

Correct: B ā€” They have the same acceleration (g) and reach the floor with the same speed. A is wrong because in free fall without air resistance all objects accelerate at g regardless of mass, so a larger weight does not mean larger acceleration. B is correct as it states equal acceleration g = 9.81 m sāˆ’2 and thus equal speed at a given drop height. C is wrong because free-fall acceleration does not depend on inertia (mass) when air resistance is negligible. D is wrong because although the heavier ball has a larger weight, it also has proportionally more mass, giving the same acceleration and therefore the same fall time.

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