If two identical balls are connected to the same very long rope, and one of the balls are floating in space and the other one is hanging above earth’s surface. What would happen?

Question

So my 7-year old asked me this and as much as I would love to be able to give him a proper answer, I couldn’t.

Does ball A (in space) float away, taking ball B (above earth’s surface) with it? Will the balls stay somewhat fixed or will ball B force ball A down?

In: Physics

Answer 1

I was just trying to work it out and there are so many variables to take into account and assumptions to make that all those outcomes are possible. It all depends on how long the rope is, the height of the ball on earth, the height of the ball in space, whether they’re both moving at the earth’s angular speed, etc.