Is it really true that a feather and a stone will fall from a building at the same rate?

Question

Is this a myth? I understand somewhat the physics behind falling from heights, but this sounded ridiculous when I was a kid, and sounds even more ridiculous now.
Maybe I'm not remembering the theory as it was originally told.

Answer 1

No it's not true. Falling from a building means that they are falling through air...and there's the rub. A stone, being streamlined compared to that feather, will enounter less drag friction than the feather. As a consequence, F = W - d = mA; where F is the net force on the stone, W is the stone weight, and d is the drag force on the stone as it falls through air.

And even if the weight of the feather is the same as the stone, we have f = W - D = ma (where m is the mass of both the stone and the feather). So when comparing the acceleration of the stone (A) with the acceleration of the feather (a), we have A/a = (W - d)/(W - D) and because W - d > W - D we find that A > a. That is, that stone will accelerate faster than the feather through air. They will not "fall from a building at the same rate."

But, and this is a big BUT, if the two object fell from the same height in a vacuum (no air), there would be no drag forces for either one. Thus we'd have A/a = (W - d)/(W - D) = W/W = 1; so that, A = a, the feather and stone would accelerate (fall at the same rate) in a vacuum. This results because they have the same weight (W).

But, again a big BUT, F = mA = mg = W; so we see that A, the acceleration of the stone in a vacuum equals g the acceleration due to gravity, which is a constant. Likewise, f = ma = mg = W; so that a = g = A in a vacuum. And to a point, even if the mass of the stone is M > m the mass of the feather, we'd have F = MA = Mg = W; so A is still g in a vacuum and f = ma = mg = w < W for the feather, but a = g again. This is amazing, in a vacuum, all mass, no matter how much or little will accelerate at the same rate, which is g = 9.81 m/sec^2 on Earth's surface.

So what you are remembering is the rate of fall of two object in a vacuum and subjected to the same gravitational force. But, from a building, where there is air, your intuition is correct, the stone and feather will fall at different rates due to the drag friction differences.

Answer 2

No. while falling, gadgets accellerate as a results of impact of gravity. so they start up from 0 velocity and, if there at the instant are not any exterior impacts,(air, magnetism, electrical energy, gentle and so on.) then they proceed to accelarate till they hit some thing. the fee is by no skill consistent - consistently changing. what's authentic that throughout the time of those circumstances the two a feather and a coin will take the comparable TIME to fall the comparable distance. In a laboratory tube there could desire to be impacts jointly with static electrical energy which will impact the feather extra beneficial than the coin. gentle excerts a stress which will have extra result on the bigger feather so the test must be executed in the lifeless of night (how do you degree in the lifeless of night?) Magnetism (the Earth's or different) could have an result on a conductive merchandise jointly with a coin - so it fairly is no longer merely a loss of air this is needed - additionally it desires to be a extensive vacuum unfastened from all different forces.

Answer 3

All objects have identical accelerations acting on them from gravity.

That being said, some objects are dwarfed by the air resistance pushing back.

A feather for instance will not fall at the same rate as a stone because it floats back and forth in the air.

A better example is a stone and a pencil. The stone could weigh 1000 kg but the pencil will still hit the ground at the same time.

Objects like feathers, paper, flower petals etc. fall slower because of their large area in which the air resistance acts on.

Answer 4

When in a vacuum, a feather and a stone WILL fall at the same speed because the only force acting on both objects is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s^2). However, in the real world, they will not fall at the same rate because of air resistance.

If you want to test this out, drop two identical looking objects of different weight and you will notice that they will fall at the same rate.

Answer 5

It is true, but only in a vacuum.

If we were to try this experiment, it will probably not work because of air resistance. But in a place where there is no air resistance (in a vacuum), the feather and the stone will fall from the building at the same speed.

Answer 6

In theory yes the question is true. Realistically, it is false. In everday life with air friction and and other elemental forces acting upon the stone and feather it won't happen becuase of the feather's lack of density. If both items were placed in a vacumn in envirment, with no outside forces except gravity than they would land at the same time if there were dropped at the same height.

Answer 7

Yes, and no.

Objects do fall at the same speed, if there is no wind resistance.

If you drop a stone and a feather, the stone will go straight down and the feather will float down much slower.

But if you do the same experiment in a vaccuum where there is no air, they will fall at the same speed.

Answer 8

The feather falls slower because or drag created by the air. However in a vacuum they will both fall at the same rate.

Answer 9

In a vacuum, both objects will fall at the same rate. Otherwise, air resistance will retard the lighter object, significantly for a feather, minimally for heavier objects.

Answer 10

Not true the feather will tend to float. What is true a 5lb cannon ball and a 1 lb cannon ball will fall at the same rate.