2007-03-12 06:50:35 · 15 answers · asked by Pam B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
People keep saying the egg will hit first because it has less surface than the elephant, THIS IS ABSOLUTE BOLLOCK. Imagine the egg filled with air, will it still hit the ground first? I don't think so.
Each object is subjected to 2 forces
1. gravity = mg
2. air resistance = -1/2 ρACv^2 where
ρ = air density
A is area
C is drag coefficient
v is velocity
And the acceleration is a = F/m = g - 1/2ρACv^2/m
So g is constant for both, so it has no effect on comparison.
But the term 1/2ρACv^2/m is
proportional to Area and
inversely proportional on mass
Now area is proportional to length squared
and mass is proportional to length cubed
so area/mass is inversely proportional to length!!
Assumin the egg and the elephant have the same density, the elephant is at least 100 time wider than the egg and thus will have a deceleration factor of 1/100 compared to the egg. Now the egg may have a better drag coefficient, but certainly not by a factor of 100.
The elephant will definitely hit the ground first!
2007-03-12 07:51:57 · answer #1 · answered by catarthur 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Havent you heard elephants are an endangered species - fancy wanting lots of people to drop this poor harmless just to answer a weird question - and dont even get me started on eggs.......
2007-03-12 07:00:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a vacuum, yes.
During one of our moon walks, an astronaut dropped a feather and a hammer from the same elevation. The entire world watched proof of Newton's Theory of Gravity, as both the feather and the hammer landed on surface of the moon at the same time.
2007-03-12 06:53:22 · answer #3 · answered by TechnoRat60 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Neglecting the drag of the air, yes. The air will add drag to the objects which will counteract the force of gravity. With the air, the egg should hit the ground first, because it has less surface area.
2007-03-12 06:54:04 · answer #4 · answered by the redcuber 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No!
Elephant being much larger in vol will face much air resistance, so the resistive force of air is greater for elephant. So the accln of elephant will be less that egg. Egg will touch ground first.
However they will touch simultaeneously, if the expt is carried in vaccuum.
2007-03-12 06:54:46 · answer #5 · answered by s0u1 reaver 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In a vacuum, yes. However, on earth there is air resistance which would possibly prevent this from happening. The acceleration of gravity is the same on all objects in free fall.
2007-03-12 06:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by Cameron E 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes they will if there's no air resistance. All bodies are subjected to the same acceleration g which is independent of their mass.
2007-03-12 07:09:55 · answer #7 · answered by physicist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The egg will hit first. Even though all objects, regardless of weight, drop at the same speed, the egg is more aerodynamic.
2007-03-12 06:54:55 · answer #8 · answered by Pervtor of Pervatia 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Because one is larer (in size not weight) they will hit at different times because of the wind resistance. If they were the same size and shape and their weight was at the opposite ends of the scale then yes they would.
2007-03-12 06:54:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
only in a vacuum. they will hit at the same time, the egg will be more aerodynamic and hit 1st in the atmosphere
2007-03-12 06:53:13 · answer #10 · answered by Bill U 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋