Question

Three different objects of masses m1, m2 and m3 are allowed to fall from rest and from the same point O along three different frictionless paths. The speeds of the three different objects on reaching the ground will be in the ratio of ___________

(a) m1:m2:m3

(b) 1:1:1

(c) 1/m1:1/m2:1/m3

(d) m1:2m2:3m3

The question was asked in a job interview.

This intriguing question originated from Friction and Motion in section Laws of Motion of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

The correct option is (b) 1:1:1

To explain: v^2-0^2=2gh

v=√2gh

This velocity does not depend on mass.