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Do heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones?
No, heavier objects fall as fast (or slow) as lighter objects, if we ignore the air friction. The air friction can make a difference, but in a rather complicated way. The gravitational acceleration for all objects is the same.
What makes an object stay in place?
An object will stay in place until a force sets it in motion. The pull of gravity is a force that might set an object (or a skier) in motion. The force you exert with your legs or arms can set a ball in motion. An object will continue to move until a force slows or stops it.
Why do some things fall faster?
As learned above, the amount of air resistance depends upon the speed of the object. Thus, more massive objects fall faster than less massive objects because they are acted upon by a larger force of gravity; for this reason, they accelerate to higher speeds until the air resistance force equals the gravity force.
Does everything fall at the same speed?
So all objects, regardless of size or shape or weight, free fall with the same acceleration. In a vacuum, a beach ball falls at the same rate as an airliner. The remarkable observation that all free falling objects fall with the same acceleration was first proposed by Galileo Galilei nearly 400 years ago.
Is there a type of force that keeps things in place?
Inertia is the force that holds the universe together. Literally. Without it, things would fall apart. It’s also what keeps us locked in destructive habits, and resistant to change.
Why do some objects fall faster than others?
If a feather and a brick were dropped together in a vacuum?that is, an area from which all air has been removed?they would fall at the same rate, and hit the ground at the same time. Understanding these basic facts will help you to be able to answer the question of why some objects fall faster than others.
Why did Galileo discover that some objects fall faster than others?
Galileo discovered that objects that are more dense, or have more mass, fall at a faster rate than less dense objects, due to this air resistance. A feather and brick dropped together.
How to test the rate at which objects fall?
You can test the rate at which various objects fall, noting both the mass of each object, and how long it takes for it to fall. Be sure to drop all objects from the same height, and be careful to use only objects that can’t break. Record all your information in a journal, and chart your results.