As a ball is dropped from 5 m high, how does it interact with the Earth?

When considering the interaction of the ball with the Earth as it is dropped from a height, the principle at play is Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this scenario, as the ball is dropped, it is acted upon by the gravitational force exerted by the Earth.

When the ball drops, it experiences a gravitational force pulling it downward. Simultaneously, the Earth feels an equal and opposite gravitational force acting upward on it, due to the ball. Although the mass of the Earth is vastly greater than that of the ball, the forces they exert on each other are indeed equal in magnitude. This interaction illustrates not only the law of universal gravitation but also reinforces the nature of force as described by Newton's laws.

Therefore, the correct choice encompasses the fact that the gravitational force between the ball and the Earth is equal; hence the ball experiences the same force as the Earth, in accordance with Newton's law, despite the vast difference in their respective masses and resulting accelerations.