A ball is dropped from the top of a tall building. At the same instant, a second ball is thrown upward from the ground level. When the two balls pass one another, one on the way up, the other on the way down, compare the magnitudes

of their acceleration:

(a) The acceleration of the dropped ball is greater.

(b) The acceleration of the ball thrown upward is greater.

(c) The acceleration of both balls is the same.

(d) The acceleration changes during the motion, so you cannot predict the exact value when the two balls pass each other.

(e) The accelerations are in opposite directions.

Acceleration establishes the relationship between the velocity of the ball and the time taken by it to reach its destination.

When the first ball is dropped, it moves downward with some acceleration.

When the second ball is thrown upward from the ground, it moves with some acceleration.

The first ball is thrown downward from a tall building. It moves downward under the effect of gravity, with an acceleration of$9.81\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2$ in the same direction.

The second ball is thrown upward from the ground. It experiences the same effect of gravity in a downward direction.

When both balls pass each other, the first one is moving downward, and the second is moving upward. The acceleration of both balls remains the same as they are moving under the effect of gravity.

The gravitational force acts on both balls in the downward direction.

Whether the ball is moving upward or downward, its acceleration is downward at $9.81\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2$.

Options (a) and (b) are incorrect because the acceleration of the ball dropped is the same as that of the ball thrown upward.

Option (d) is incorrect because acceleration does not vary when both balls pass one another; it remains the same.

Option (e) is incorrect because the acceleration of both balls is acting in the downward direction.

The magnitude of both accelerations is the same at $9.81\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^2$, acting in the downward direction.

Hence, option (c) is correct.