Which Ball Lands Faster

A deceptively tricky AP Physics question broken down step by step.

Two balls are thrown at the same time with the same initial speed — one at 30° and the other at 60°. When they land, which ball hits the ground with greater speed?

Note: There is no air resistance

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There are two ways to solve this question: the mathematical approach and the physics approach. Are you ready to solve it?

Assuming the launch angle is θ, let’s resolve the speed into two components: horizontal and vertical

If we consider the vertical component, the ball travels upward until gravity reduces its speed to zero at the highest point, then falls back down along the same path

here initial spped and landing speed are same