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Two Similar objects with different weight falling at the same speed . (Revised)?

Logically, The heavy object should fall faster but they fall at the same speed and acceleration.

What is the force involved that is preventing it?

13 Answers

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  • 2 decades ago
    Favorite Answer

    Consider two objects having masses 1kg and 5 kg are in a horizontal plane.

    We apply a force of 10 newton to the 1 kg mass and 50 newton to the 5kg mass.

    That is, we apply less force for less mass and greater force for greater mass.

    Now we find the acceleration of the two bodies.

    The1 kg mass will have an acceleration of 10/1 = 10 m/ s^2. That is its speed will be going on increasing by 10meter / second in every second.

    Similarly the 5 kg mass will have an acceleration of 50/5 = 10 m/s^2. That is its speed will be going on increasing by 10meter / second in every second.

    Both have the same acceleration and both have the same speed at any time after start.

    Now returning to gravitational pull, let us place the 1kg mass in one pan of the balance and the 5kg mass in another pan.

    The pan having 5kg mass will come down and the pan having 1kg mass will go up.

    This is because the earth is pulling the 5 kg mass with a force of 50 newton and 1kg mass with a force of 10 newton.

    If we drop the two objects from the same place, as we have seen already the 1 kg mass will fall down with an acceleration of 10 m/ s^2 and the 5kg mass will also fall down with 10 m/ s^2. But the forces acting on them are different.

    The Earth’s pull is such that it gives less force for less mass and greater force for greater mass.

    To be more specific it gives a force of 10 newton for every kilogram of mass and hence the acceleration is for any mass is the same as approximately 10m/s^2.

  • raj
    Lv 7
    2 decades ago

    for gaining speed acceleration is required.acceleration is provided by a force.the force which provides acceleration to falling bodies is the force of gravity or the gravitational pull.

    the speed of any falling object is given by the formula

    v=u+gt where u is the initial velocity which is zero for an object falling from rest,v is the velocity after a lapse of time t and g is the acceleration due to gravity which is approximately 10 metre/sec/sec.you will find that the mass of the object or the weight which is nothing but the force with which the earth is pulling it (w=mg) doesn't figure in this formula at all.The momentum of the heavier object will be more as momentum is the product of the mas and the velocity

    if at all there is any marginal difference in the speeds it could be attributed to the resistance provided by the atmosphere

  • 2 decades ago

    The only reason for this phenomenon is the density of those objects. The one with greater density is usualy smaller than the one with smaller density. Subsequently, the air resistance affects the object with smaller density more intensively than the other one. In Vacuum, both objects fall at the same speed.

    This was proven by Galilei, who threw two similar objects of different weight from the Piza tower. The assistant on the ground saw both objects fell to the ground at the very same time.

    The confusion is usual when an iron ball and a feather are observed. But in Vacuum, they both fall down at the same speed.

    Recent attempts to revise Galilei's conclusions have led to the same results, although more precise measurements were applied (radar speedometer and contact detection cell).

  • 2 decades ago

    The earth is much heavier than all objects on it. Thus, it produces an equal acceleration in all free falling objects.

    You are considering the resistance due to air. That plays a role when the surface area is considerable like a loose cloth or parachute with respect to the mass. In a vaccuum however, all objects will fall equally under gravity.

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  • 2 decades ago

    All objects fall due to the attraction of mass to mass, which we call gravity. The rate of fall is 32 feet per second per second. It is true no matter how big or small an object is. This continues until the air resistance prevents further speed-up.

  • 2 decades ago

    logically, it may seem that way, but all bodies fall with the same accelaration.this was proved by gallelio he simply dropped 2 different masses from the same hieght and showed that they reached the ground at the same time

    a simple proof:

    force on a body due to the earh=GMm/r*r

    ( in the above eqn M is the mass of the earth, m is the mass of the object &Gis the gravitational constant, r is the radius of the earth.

    also force on a body=mass*accelaration

    hence for any object the force due to earth=m*accelaration=GMm/r*r

    hence by cancelling m(mass of the object,a non zero number)

    we get accelarationof any object=GM/r*r

    hence the accelaration felt by any body is a constant on the earth though it may change slightly depending on the hieght from which it is dropped

  • 2 decades ago

    You know the scientist done the same experiment from pisa tower (Rome) That's the force of Gravity. and the force involved in it is F = G (Gravity) x Mass of body (A) x Mass of Body (B)/ Squre of the Distance between the two objects AB)

    F= G MM / R *R

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    They must be in a vacuum. Gravity pulls on them the same regardless of weight. If not in a vacuum, the friction of the air molecules against the objects as they fall & the air pressure against them are a factor.

  • Anonymous
    2 decades ago

    Its g Acceleration due to gravity

  • 2 decades ago

    That depends on which object is bigger (not heavier)

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