2 objects dropped from the same height at the same time - does weight affect speed or is it mass? 4 my 8 yr kd

Question

I can't seem to find this, but I beleive that it is the shape of the object and its ability to displace the air or not? My son is 8 and I am not a science mom, pls help.

Answer 1

Things fall because of gravity, which is constant. Two objects of different mass fall at the same rate. Of course, an object that has the same mass as another but has a shape that gives it more air resistence, will not fall as fast as the other. But with equal air resistence, objects fall at the same rate, regardless of their mass.

That heavier things do not fall faster than light things, but at the same rate, was demonstrated by Galileo, in one of his famous experiments.

Answer 2

In the air the shape and mass of the object will determine which will hit the ground first, as was previously stated for this case weight and mass are interchangeable, though this is not always the case. Without air resistance, however, all objects fall at the same increasing rate. To prove this without a vacuum pump try this easy and loud experiment (your kid will love this because he gets to drop things from fairly high up).

Take a heavy hard cover book, and a single sheet of paper. Now drop them broad side down from the same height at the same time, obviously the book drops to the ground with a loud clap, while the paper gently glides to the ground. Now hold the paper under the book and drop them, again obviously the paper/book stack falls at the same rate as just the book. This is actually more important then you may think, because if the piece of paper were inherently slower falling it should slow the book down with it. Now for the coup-de-grace, put the paper on top of the book (you may want to use a fresh piece of paper because the edges need to be very flat against the book, also the paper must fit on the book without hanging over the edge anywhere), this one may not be so obvious, but when dropped the paper rest firmly on top of the book. The air is already pushed out of the way by the book, and because the paper does not fall at a slower rate then the book it keeps up the whole way down to the ground.

This should leave quite an impression on your son, I know it made an impression on me when I was in middle school, and now I'm working on a physics Ph.D.

Answer 3

I remember this experiment for elementary science class... I'm almost positive it has nothing to do with weight. The teacher had three balls, one of wood, one of metal and one of something else...all the exact same shape and size... just different weights... all lined up on a board, he then turned the board so they all rolled off at exactly the same time and they all landed at the same time... I was shocked. I'm pretty sure this is correct... maybe you can try a similar expierment.

Here is some more info I found on the web.

http://www.physics.uiowa.edu/~umallik/adventure/gravity.htm

http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/gravity.htm

All objects attract each other through the force of gravity. The acceleration caused by gravity is independent of the mass or weight of an object, as well as any motion parallel to the ground.

Answer 4

You can find the answer to this yourself, by 1. scrunching up a letter sized piece of paper as small as possible. 2 Holding it, together with a heavier object of roughly the same size, egg a jam jar etc - its good to stand on a chair for this to get some height. 3. Drop both objects at the same time, and they will both land at the same time.


Therefore it is neither weight nor mass but the effect of gravity on the object and as you say, the shape of the object

Answer 5

Mass affects speed, but only as a result of air resistance. If the two objects are dropped in a vacuum, neither mass nor weight have relevance. Incidentally, weight is a measure of gravitational force, whereas mass is an intrinsic property of the object.

Answer 6

(weight = mass *gravity) so for us peons stuck on the surface of the earth you can kinda consider them "the same".

ability to displace the air ... yes ... its call wind (air) resistance.
thier is no air resistance in a vacuum ... cause theirs no air thier.

drop a golf ball and a tennis ball from a height. they should hit about the same time. try a golf ball and a bowling ball (if you dare). should get the same result.

try a feather and a tennis ball .. the feather will float (air resistance) all over the place and take alot longer to land.

so ... disregarding any air resistance two objects dropped from the same height at the same time will hit the ground at the same time.

Answer 7

No, not in a vacuum. An iron ball and a feather will fall at the same rate. In air then of course shape and air resistance do influence the speed. If the items have the same shape and volume, then weight will have an effect in air.

Answer 8

This reality relies upon on there not being any air friction (drag). without air, the only acceleration that acts on *any length* mass that falls is "g" {the acceleration of gravity}. even nonetheless the burden (tension) of an merchandise does be counted on its mass, the "unfastened-fall" acceleration (without air drag) would not. acceleration is the changer of speed and if an merchandise is dropped from 0 speed (at relax) the wonderful speed is in simple terms equivalent to (acceleration) x (time length of drop) word that mass isn't an element of this equation, so any mass might have an identical very final speed by potential of this formulation. even nonetheless, you're intuitively superb IF air drag (friction) is delivered into the photograph - then we'd have an acceleration of air drag which might act oppositely to that of gravity. the photograph will become muddied previous that considering the fact that drag relies upon on different factors beside mass. interior the words that frustrate many a committed yet initiating student of physics - thiis project is going previous the scope of our learn (for the 2nd :>).

Answer 9

Considering this question is asked of an 8 year old, I would say the answer they are looking for is "No". In the second grade they shouldn't be teaching anything beyond 32 ft/s2 (acceleration due to gravity). "The objects will hit the ground at the same time".

Answer 10

It doesnot affect the speed. Independant of weight or mass.