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Weight has nothing to do with how fast things fall, only wind resistance. Take two 16 ounce soda bottles, open one drink eight ounces. The unopened bottle is twice as heavy as the opened bottle. Close the bottle you just drank half of and drop them at the same time from a tall building, they will hit the ground at the same time. That is because gravity is a constant and the velocity of any falling object is 9.8 meters per second/per second.

Acceleration is the same for all objects at 9.8m/sec/sec.

Acceleration due to gravity near the earth's surface is the same for all objects regardless of their mass.

This is because acceleration is inversely proportional to mass:

a = F / m

If you substitute the "force of gravity" equation above for F in this simple equation, and assume m here is m1 there, you'll find you have m1 (mass of the falling object) on both sides of the fraction, so they cancel out - acceleration due to gravity doesn't change with the mass of the object. But the force most definitely does.

Force and acceleration are two very different things. Confusing them leads to wrong answers and further confusion in later topics.

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What object falls faster a heavy object or a light object in a vacuum?

They both fall at the same rate. This is because they are both only acted upon by one force in the vacuum- gravitational acceleration. The mass, size or shape of the object do not influence the object's motion in a vacuum.


Why does a heavy object fall at the same rate as a light object in a vacuum?

In a vacuum, there is no air resistance to affect the rate at which objects fall. The acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects regardless of their mass. Therefore, both a heavy object and a light object will fall at the same rate in a vacuum.


Who falls faster when wearing the same size parachute a heavy person or a light person or do they both fall at the same speed?

Both a heavy person and a light person will fall at the same speed when wearing the same size parachute. The rate at which an object falls is determined by gravity, not weight. The parachute helps regulate the descent rate for both individuals.


What to do when heavy object falls on toes?

If a heavy object falls on your toes, immediately remove the object and elevate the injured foot to reduce swelling. Apply ice wrapped in a cloth for 15-20 minutes every 2 hours to minimize pain and inflammation. If the pain is severe, or if you suspect a broken bone, seek medical attention promptly.


Why do objects all fall at the same time when gravity is the only force acting?

-- Because that's the way gravity behaves. -- Because is would be ridiculous to think that heavy objects fall faster. Here's why: ==> Let's say that heavy objects fall faster and light objects fall slower. ==> Take a piece of sticky tape and stick a light object onto the back of a heavy object. Then drop them together off of a roof. ==> The light object tries to fall slower and holds back, and the heavy object tries to fall faster and pulls forward. So when they're stuck together, they fall at some in-between speed. ==> But wait! When they're stuck together they weigh more than the heavy object alone. So how can a stuck-together object that's heavier than the heavy object alone fall at a speed that's slower than the heavy object alone ? ! ? Isn't that ridiculous ? There's no way that heavy objects can fall faster than light objects.

Related Questions

What object falls faster a heavy object or a light object in a vacuum?

They both fall at the same rate. This is because they are both only acted upon by one force in the vacuum- gravitational acceleration. The mass, size or shape of the object do not influence the object's motion in a vacuum.


Surely an object that is heavy and aero-dynamic would fall faster?

If there is an atmosphere - yes. In a vacuum - no.


Why does a heavy object fall at the same rate as a light object in a vacuum?

In a vacuum, there is no air resistance to affect the rate at which objects fall. The acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects regardless of their mass. Therefore, both a heavy object and a light object will fall at the same rate in a vacuum.


Why doesn't a heavy object accelerate more than a light object when both are freely falling?

Here's the answer, and I love it. Let's assume that heavy objects fall fasterand light objects fall slower, just like everybody wants them to.Follow me now . . .-- Heavier objects fall faster. Lighter objects fall slower.-- Take a heavy object and a light object up to the roof of a tall building.Then take a piece of sticky tape, and stick the light object onto the backof the heavy one. Then walk carefully to the edge of the roof, and dropthe package over the side. As you do that, yell down "Look out below!"-- The heavier object normally falls faster, so it tries to pull the package ahead.The lighter object normally falls slower, so it tries to hold the package back. Soas they fight each other, the package falls at some middle speed, slower thanthe heavy object alone, and faster than the lighter object alone.-- But wait! They're taped together. How is that different from being glued together ?Or melted together ? Or welded together ? Or even inside the same skin ?-- Or even being the same single object ? They could just as well be a single object,one that weighs a little more than the original heavier object.-- But we just agreed that the package falls a little slower than the original heavier object,even though it's heavier than the original heavier object.-- Our orignal assumption . . . that a heavy object falls faster than a lght object . . . leads usdown the garden path to a ridiculous result.That assumption must be wrong.Don't ya just love it !


What falls faster a brick or a balloon?

The brick because it is heavy but if its a trick question then balloon


Who falls faster when wearing the same size parachute a heavy person or a light person or do they both fall at the same speed?

Both a heavy person and a light person will fall at the same speed when wearing the same size parachute. The rate at which an object falls is determined by gravity, not weight. The parachute helps regulate the descent rate for both individuals.


How to prove heavy things do not fall faster than lighter things by using Newton's law of gravitation?

This was proven on the moon when a person droped a hamer and a fether from a bird. it proved that any object falls at the same speed.


Why a heavy object does not falle faster than a light object?

When heavy objects roll down something, fricition is involved. Friction is made by the rubbing of one thing against the other. Try rubbing your hands together reallly fast. Do your hands feel warm? Heavy objects have more friction, which slows down the heavy object. Lighter objects have less friction which cause it to run faster.


Can a wall kill you?

The only way a wall can kill a person if it falls on them. A wall is a very heavy object and if itÕs not in a good condition and falls on a person it can kill them.


What to do when heavy object falls on toes?

If a heavy object falls on your toes, immediately remove the object and elevate the injured foot to reduce swelling. Apply ice wrapped in a cloth for 15-20 minutes every 2 hours to minimize pain and inflammation. If the pain is severe, or if you suspect a broken bone, seek medical attention promptly.


Why do objects all fall at the same time when gravity is the only force acting?

-- Because that's the way gravity behaves. -- Because is would be ridiculous to think that heavy objects fall faster. Here's why: ==> Let's say that heavy objects fall faster and light objects fall slower. ==> Take a piece of sticky tape and stick a light object onto the back of a heavy object. Then drop them together off of a roof. ==> The light object tries to fall slower and holds back, and the heavy object tries to fall faster and pulls forward. So when they're stuck together, they fall at some in-between speed. ==> But wait! When they're stuck together they weigh more than the heavy object alone. So how can a stuck-together object that's heavier than the heavy object alone fall at a speed that's slower than the heavy object alone ? ! ? Isn't that ridiculous ? There's no way that heavy objects can fall faster than light objects.


Who'll travel faster heavy or light object?

Assuming equal conditions, a light object will generally travel faster than a heavy object due to having less mass to accelerate. This is consistent with Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.