Horizontal Launch vs. Free Fall

Theory

Horizontal and vertical motions are independent. A ball launched horizontally with $v_0$ and a ball simply dropped from the same height have the same vertical motion, so both fall for $t=\sqrt{2h/g}$. The launched ball travels $x=v_{0}t$.

What to observe

• Both balls reach the floor at the same instant.
• At every moment they are at the same height.

Try this

• Change the cannon’s v₀: the fall time does not change.
• Raise the platform and compare with $\sqrt{2h/g}$.

Also available in: Lançamento horizontal × queda livre (Português) · Lanzamiento horizontal vs. caída libre (Español)