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physics

 
 
Reply Sat 10 Jan, 2015 09:58 am
It flies in the face of common sense and yet we know light and heavy bodies fall to earth at the same rate. Yet we know the force of gravity on a larger body is greater. Do we just accept this or is there an explanation?
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Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 512 • Replies: 4
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contrex
 
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Reply Sat 10 Jan, 2015 10:00 am
The acceleration due to gravity is the same for all bodies whatever their weight. We don't need to "accept" this, we can do experiments like people have done for hundreds of years. What you may be getting confused by is the fact that the force of gravity is stronger on heavier objects than lighter ones. Another way of thinking of this is to say that gravity has to pull harder on a heavy object than a light one in order to speed them both up by the same amount.


magnocrat
 
  1  
Reply Sat 10 Jan, 2015 02:08 pm
@contrex,
Thanks for that answer I like your last sentance it seems to explain the reason and that is why a larger object is heavier.
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Brandon9000
 
  1  
Reply Sat 10 Jan, 2015 02:35 pm
Contrex is correct. The force of gravity is stronger on more massive bodies, but their resistance to being accelerated is also greater, and by the same amount, so it all balances out.
magnocrat
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 01:51 am
@Brandon9000,
How curious this is yet true. Thanks again.
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