Two apples of the exact same mass AND shape grew on a tree...(see details)?

Question

Two apples of the exact same mass AND exact same shape grew on the same tree (see details)?

Apple number one grew 5 feet from the ground and apple number two grew 4 feet from the ground. Assuming they are on two different branches, there are no branches or leaves, or anything between the apples and the ground. Nothing or no one lifted the apples, they just grew there and they both have the same mass AND shape, in fact they are identical.

Which apple falls first?

OK, assuming the branches are also identical and of the same mass and shape (identical twin branches). lets say there is absolutely no wind or rain for a couple of days (when they are about "due" to fall).

Ok, so the stems are also identical and attached identically to their respective identical branches.

Which one falls first?

LOL, schytian, I was waiting for you...Come on now...How insignificantly faster does the top apple spin? Its one foot higher!!! Not a light year away!

Oh and Schytian, sweetheart, you know I don't have your mathematical knowlage, but I'm not gullible honey;)
...((HUGS))

Ok Scythian, I read your link :
"This has been demonstrated by noting that atomic clocks at differing altitudes (and thus different gravitational potential) will eventually show different times. The effects detected in such experiments are extremely small, with differences being measured in nanoseconds."

Even if its nanosegonds faster, it is faster...
Thanks.
:)

Mig 31 Firefox: I believe the first answerer's term "shifty" was a compliment also.
You all have good answers so far, I gave everyone a thumb up.

And your argument is good.

Answer 1

I'd say it depends on stochastic events (things you can't control). Maybe one branch is rotten, or a wind blows and knocks the lower one off first.
However, other things aside, they may be asking you about gravity. Gravity is negligibly smaller when you go vertically by one foot. However, there is a very slightly stronger force on the apple at 4 ft rather than at 5ft. But that's a pretty shifty question.

Answer 2

Is there wind? Wind increases the higher you are in altitude, even a foot difference would mean the higher one is in a more turbulent current, so it should get jostled first.

Wind aside, the apple at 5 feet would technically age slower than the apple at 4 feet. It's moving further basically. Imagine a compass, spinning around. The closer you are to the center of the compass, the less you're moving. The further from the center, the more you move. If we shrank down and you were on the end of the needle, and I was at it's center, you are doing more traveling than me and at a faster rate. So you would age slower.

As I recall physics says that the faster you move, the slower you age by comparison to something moving slower. So the apple at 5 feet is higher from the ground, it's moving infinitesimally faster, and aging that much slower, so the apple at 4 feet would fall first.

So if there's wind, the apple at 5 feet would fall first, if there isn't, I believe physics says that the apple at 4 feet would fall first as it would age faster, albeit only slightly.

Answer 3

The stem and the integrity of it's attachment to the tree would have some affect. The apples will fall when the connection becomes inadequate to support the apples weight.

Assuming these are also identical, including weight and connection condition, my guess the lower apple would have minuscule more attraction to the earths gravitational force as it's one foot closer so it would be the first to overcome the connection to the branch and fall first.

Comment: No question is shitty if it makes a person think. Yours did so I gave a star. Good work thinking is the whole purpose behind YA.

Answer 4

With the strict conditions mentioned in the question, the 4 feet apple should fall first due to its lesser seperation. (Alternate explanation, but assuming something else, the higher apple would gain weight slower because the tree would need greater energy for the mass transfer due to the 1 feet potential difference. So that way too, the lower apple would gain critical stem snapping weight earlier!)

Comment: I believe the first answerer used the term shiFTy which is complimentary, not derogatory

Answer 5

If absolutely nothing other than gravity influences the apples, then the one that is 4 ft high should fall first. However in real life, each of them has about a 50/50 chance to fall first.

Answer 6

The apple to fall first would be the one, under which, Isaac Newton was sitting.

There is a greater probability that he would be sitting under the 5 feet apple, as he would be more comfortable.

The apple that fell would weigh 1 N.

Answer 7

It's the higher apple that falls first because it will ripen before the lower apple. Why? Relativistic gravitational time dilation. The higher apple's clock runs faster than the lower one.

Answer 8

it really seems to be the problem of probability, since all of the lab conditions together with the powers we are talking about are making difference of gravity marginal here.
lets say in the orchard of genetically etc. identical appletrees, the 4feet apples would fall sooner than the 5ft apples. :) and you have the marginal gravitation there, too.
Huuge amounts will minimize probabilty effects and increase the slight touch of gravity:]

Answer 9

Hobbies do not dictate personality. So they may not get along. Someone may play, for example, golf very competitively and care about every single rule. The other may want to just have a fun day on the course and play how they feel. They may not get along although they both enjoy golf.

Answer 10

Lower apple, lower apple!
It's the one the worm reaches first.
(really!)


All other variables excluded.