Misconceptions About Falling Objects

Veritasium
Contributed By
Veritasium
Resource Type
Classroom Material
Keywords
weight gravity gravitational force science literacy experiments object drop inertia
Subjects
Science
Related Resources

Misconceptions About Falling Objects

If you drop a heavy object and a light object simultaneously, which one will reach the ground first? A lot of people will say the heavy object, but what about those who know both will land at the same time? What do they think? Some believe both objects have the same gravitational pull on them and/or both fall to the ground with the same constant speed. Neither of these things is true, however. The force is greater on the heavy object and both objects accelerate at the same rate as they approach the earth, i.e. they both speed up but at the same rate.

Author
Dr. Derek Muller
Publisher
Veritasium

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