If you drop two objects from the same height do they reach the ground at the same time?

Question

I would like proof for the answer.. pls!!

Does the weight of the objects matter in any way?

Answer 1

If two objects with different masses are dropped from the same point on earth they will hit the ground at the same time. Both will undergo an acceleration of 9.81m/s^s or 32.2ft/s^2 however each item has its own terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is the point at which there is no is no acceleration in the downward direction because fluid friction (almost always air) has an equal force in the positive up direction so they will then fall at the same velocity until another force acts on the body (newtons 2nd law, F=ma).

Think of it this way, drop a tissue just after you take it out of the box and an orange from 5 feet, release them at the same time, the orange will clearly hit the ground first. Now ball up that tissue really tight and repeat, the results will be much closer than the first trial. This is because the drag friction of air is much greater on the open tissue, it has more surface area to act on to create an opposing force.

Now if you dropped a bowling ball and orange from 5 feet they would land at the exact same time. But drop them from 500 feet and they would be different.

Any two items of masses dropped in a vacuum chamber or anywhere outside of earths atmosphere will hit the ground at the exact same time because there is no opposing fluid force. Hope this helps. Any more questions please ask!

Grant

Answer 2

If you are including air particles then no because a large object has a large surface area which is pushing against the air molecules when it falls causing the large object to slow its acceleration. Think of a movie where a space shuttle enters the Earth's atmosphere and suddenly that red curved shield appears in front of the space shuttle. That graphic is suppose to show the air molecules hitting the space shuttle.

The surface area exposed to the air molecules determines the Terminal Velocity that an object has. Terminal Velocity is the maximum freefall velocity of an object. Think of an ant, if you drop it from the top of a building, it can not reach a large velocity because the air molecules stop it from accelerating when it hits it's terminal velocity.


If you are ignoring the friction caused by air (if the objects are freefalling in a vacum) then yes the objects reach the ground at the same time.

The weight does not matter because Force = mass * g where g = acceleration of gravity.

If you increase the mass, the force acting on it gets larger, but the acceleration is the same, therefore both objects would acclerate at the same rate, reach the same speed and therefore travel the same distance in any given amount of time.

Answer 3

See the two webpages below as there is no gravity in a vaccum.


Any object is pulled to earth by gravity at a rate of 32 ft/s^2. If these objects are released @ the same time they will indeed hit the earth together.

That's a basic Physics problem. We used to work out problems like a person throwing a baseball upwards @ a certain speed. The problem would give the weight of the ball and we'd figure out the highest point the ball would reach, how far away from the thrower it'd hit the ground, and the speed at which it hit the ground.

Answer 4

They would hit the ground at the same time. Unless it is so wispy like a feather that wind resistance would slow it down, they would hit the ground at the same time.
If you need an example, drop a big basketball and a ballbearing at the same height. If you do the experiment yourself you will understand all the better. This is what happened to me.

Answer 5

Sorry guys, but the force of gravity does operate in a vacuum...that is what maintains all the panets and moons in their stable orbits.

Weightlessness is simply a sensation experienced by an individual when there are no external objects touching one's body and exerting a push or pull upon it. Weightless sensations exist when all contact forces are removed. These sensations are common to any situation in which you are momentarily (or perpetually) in a state of free fall. When in free fall, the only force acting upon your body is the force of gravity - a non-contact force. Since the force of gravity cannot be felt without any other opposing forces, you would have no sensation of it. You would feel weightless when in a state of free fall.

Answer 6

If there is no difference in aerodynamic drag (like if you do it in vacuum), then answer is yes, at the same time.

A proof is not something that can be put in this text only format. Let it be said that this principle is the basis of a huge part of modern physics, and was proven on may occasions.

Answer 7

Only in a perfect vacuum. Otherwise you have to deal with weight, size, density, etc.

Answer 8

yes- drop a bowling bowl and a bouncy ball off your roof and watch them drop at the same rate