2007-02-25 20:45:37 · 31 answers · asked by sir_real 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
yes, unless u put em in a tube and take the air out......trying to remember the feather and coin test from HS.
2007-02-25 20:50:56 · answer #1 · answered by Pro Bush 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Assuming there is no air resistance, and contrary to what everyone thinks, the fat guy would reach the bottom first ... but you would not be able to measure the difference. The reason is that the fat guy and the little guy exert gravity proportional to their weight. So the fat guy has a larger gravity field which added to earth gravity field (which is constant for both men) would give him an infinitesimal advantage over the thin guy (of the order of 10^-25).
With air resistance, again the fat guy would win. Resistance is proportional to the cross section (r^2) while weight is proportional to volume (r^3) therefore the fat guy has a better weight/surface ratio than the thin guy and would fall faster. Similar to a ton of feather vs a ton of lead: with air resistance, the ton of lead will fall faster.
2007-02-28 00:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by catarthur 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The theory is that in a vacuum both bodies would fall at the same rate and reach the bottom together. In practise the air would have an effect because of its resistance. The lighter body would fall more slowly. Just consider a feather and a nail. The nail will fall faster in air but the feather will float down due to the amount of wind resistance that it has. In a vacuum they will both fall at the same rate.
2007-02-25 21:36:46 · answer #3 · answered by ANF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The force of gravity is proportional to the mass of the object. Therefore the component of the acceleration due to gravity is identical for the two people no matter how different their weights.
The friction due to air is proportional to the surface area for any particular speed. The fat person will have a greater surface area. From experience in swimming we also know that the fat person will be less dense. The ratio of volume to mass will be smaller for the skinny person. The larger volume of the fat person will result in a smaller ratio of surface to volume. I am unable to quantify these offsetting differences with sufficient precision to determine which person would hit the ground first.
2007-02-28 17:04:21 · answer #4 · answered by anonimous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that's a good question.
I think that the fat man would get there first. The heavier the object the greater the gravitational effect so he'd fall quicker.
That's what I think.
Actually, having read the other answers, I think what I've just said is bollox, so take no notice. I do think that's a great question though.
2007-02-26 03:14:09 · answer #5 · answered by Hello Dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in principle, both of them should land at the same time. since the acceleration due to gravity (g) is the same. that basically means that though gravity will exert a greater force on the fat man, since he has more mass, the acceleration he will feel will be the same as the thin guy. (by newtons second law, force=massXacceleration). thus in in vacuum(in the absence of air), a feather and a coin take the same time to fall.
but with air friction acting, the fat man is likely to fall first.
2007-02-25 20:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The acceleration due to gravity is independente of the mass of the bodies. Therefore it does't matter how "heavy" a body is it will always fall with the same acceleration. However in a free fall in air(atmosphere) there may be other effects such as air drag which can change the speed of fall. A parchute actually uses this effect to slow down a fall.
2007-02-25 20:56:10 · answer #7 · answered by physicist 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The men would hit at roughly the same time because the rate an object falls no matter the mass, density, or weight, it 30feet per second per second. Which means that the objects accelerates by 30 feet every second of free fall. so the first second is 30fps the second second is 60fps then 90 120 etc etc
2007-02-25 20:58:32 · answer #8 · answered by Matt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-27 21:48:34 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most people would say the fat man. but its more complicated than that. Its a question for Sir Issac newton. i think it involves weight of the object, size of the object and other variables. i.e the fat man is heavier but has more body mass which creates more drag thus slowing down the descent... the skinny man is lighter but is more streamlined so has less drag.
this is too complicated for me.
2007-02-25 21:05:30 · answer #10 · answered by Charles Montgomery Burns 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, as the volume of the fat man is greater and more air resistance acts on his body slowing him down. The thin man is streamlined and falls more quickly.
2007-02-25 22:22:33 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋