Gravitational force act on all objects in proportion to their masses. ...
100 percent true. But you must also not forget that Mass is inversely proportional to acceleration. More the mass less the acceleration. So less acceleration is produced. acceleration is inversely proportional proportional to time. Less the acceleration more time taken. Hope you understand
Gravitational force act on all objects in proportion to their masses. ...
Gravitational Force and Mass
The gravitational force is a fundamental force of nature that attracts all objects with mass towards each other. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
Falling Objects
When we consider objects falling near the surface of the Earth, such as a heavy ball and a lighter feather, it may seem counterintuitive that they both fall at the same rate. However, this is due to the influence of other forces acting on the objects, such as air resistance.
Effect of Air Resistance
Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of objects through the air. When an object falls through the atmosphere, it experiences air resistance which can significantly affect its motion. The amount of air resistance depends on the shape, size, and velocity of the object.
Terminal Velocity
As an object falls, it accelerates under the influence of gravity. However, as its speed increases, so does the air resistance acting upon it. Eventually, a point is reached where the force of air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity, resulting in a net force of zero. At this point, the object stops accelerating and continues to fall at a constant velocity called the terminal velocity.
Impact on Falling Objects
The effect of air resistance is more significant for lighter objects due to their larger surface area-to-mass ratio. Lighter objects experience more air resistance compared to their weight, which slows down their fall. On the other hand, heavier objects have a smaller surface area-to-mass ratio, resulting in less air resistance and a faster fall.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses, the presence of air resistance plays a crucial role in determining the rate at which objects fall. The influence of air resistance causes lighter objects to fall slower than heavier objects due to their larger surface area-to-mass ratio. Therefore, the misconception that heavier objects fall faster is incorrect when considering the impact of air resistance.
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