Does mass affect how fast a ball would drop?

Answer 1

Ignoring air resistance and ignoring changes in gravity from one place to another and ignoring differences in centripetal force based upon latitude on a spinning surface, and ignoring buoyancy of the objects compared to the gas or liquid in which they are dropped, and assuming very small objects being dropped near a very large object (e.g., a planet, moon, star):

If air resistance is not involved, then mass has no effect at all

on the speed of a falling object.

Answer 2

No, mass does not have an effect on a falling object, as long as the object is falling in a vacuum. If an object is falling through air, then aerodynamics come into play. For example, a 1' solid steel sphere will reach a higher terminal velocity than a 1' polished wood sphere.

Answer 3

Yes and no.

If it is falling in the gravity field of a much larger object, then no. If you drop a Bowling ball and a marble off a building at the same time, they fall together. This is classic physics.

If it is big but not massive (e.g. a feather, balloon etc.) it will be affected by air resistance and buoyancy - a helium balloon will rise not fall.

Answer 4

If friction is not accounted for, then the material of the balls will not matter. Different masses mean that the heavier ball will require more force to go faster while the lighter ball will require less mass to go the same speed as the heavy ball.

Answer 5

Yes, the direction of the wind can affect the speed of an object.

Answer 6

The mass of the object is independent of the rate ot its fall or strictly speaking mass is independent of gravity. Only weight of the object depends upon the gravity.

Answer 7

no, as long as they have the same surface area (size) it does not matter how heavy they are

Answer 8

Yes it will effect the speed depending on the direction.

Answer 9

assuming no air resistance

assuming two small but different masses falling at same distance from earth surface.

both will accelerate at the same rate

Answer 10

Yes.