Question.
Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall faster than a light object ?
Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall faster than a light object ?
Solution:
A freely falling object of any mass falls under the action of gravity given by
$g=\frac{G M}{r^{2}}$, where $^{\prime} G^{\prime}$ is constant of gravitation,
M is mass of earth, r is the distance between the object and the centre of earth.
Thus, the acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the objects.
$\therefore$ All objects fall with the same acceleration towards the earth.
A freely falling object of any mass falls under the action of gravity given by
$g=\frac{G M}{r^{2}}$, where $^{\prime} G^{\prime}$ is constant of gravitation,
M is mass of earth, r is the distance between the object and the centre of earth.
Thus, the acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the objects.
$\therefore$ All objects fall with the same acceleration towards the earth.