Both have the same weight...How does this happen?
2006-09-08 10:35:38 · 10 answers · asked by John G 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Ladies and Gents... the technical term for this is "drag".
High surface area, higher drag. This creates a frictional force that is opposite to the direction of motion. (In this case, since the object is moving down, the drag force is in the up direction.)
Both objects experience the same acceleration of gravity... which is why they will fall at the same rate in a vacuum.
In air, the crumpled piece of paper has a smaller drag force moving upward than the flat sheet of paper. Therefore, it falls faster.
2006-09-08 11:13:15 · answer #1 · answered by Sam I AM 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The crumpled piece of paper has less area than the flat sheet of paper so there is less air for the crumpled piece to have to go through and so it goes faster. The air that the entire surface the flat piece of paper is encountering is slowing it down.
2006-09-08 17:42:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Less area for wind resistance and air friction to slow the crumples paper down compared to the flat sheet.
2006-09-08 17:41:58 · answer #3 · answered by Yentl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the flat piece of paper has more surface area and therefore more are is pushing upward on it, slowing it's decent.
In a vacuum they would fall just as fast as anything else, regardless of weight.
2006-09-08 17:38:48 · answer #4 · answered by phosphoricx3 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because a flat sheet of paper is more affected by air resistance.
2006-09-08 17:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by Natalie C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The crumpled piece is more aerodynamic.
Aerodynamics is its own branch of physics you should look into if you really want to understand.
2006-09-08 17:43:10 · answer #6 · answered by who_knows_where_it_will_lead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because one is bundled up and there is more air under the larger paper surface area....
2006-09-08 17:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by catzrme 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Terminal velocity goes down as an object's surface area increases.
2006-09-08 17:41:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look back to your question about the bowling ball and feather. It is the exact same.
2006-09-08 17:45:26 · answer #9 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wind resistence.
2006-09-08 17:40:50 · answer #10 · answered by geo1985 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋