2 ms·

There is a larger gravitational force on heavier things because they're heavier. Trouble is, they also have more inertia, which exactly counteracts the larger f

There is a larger gravitational force on heavier things because they're heavier. Trouble is, they also have more inertia, which exactly counteracts the larger force (because of the principle of equivalence) and so they fall at the same acceleration as lighter objects.

taeric 7y ago
That feels wrong. You can say that two larger things attract each other more than smaller things. Especially as they get closer to each other. Catch, of course, is all things on the earth are in the noise range compared to, you know, the earth. If you are talking about gravity and acceleration on the earth, you are talking about 9.8 m/s^2. Pretty much period. And yes, there are terminal velocities that impact maximum speed. Acceleration, though, is not velocity.
- dreamcompiler 7y ago
  It's correct. Terminal velocity is irrelevant here; it's true outside the atmosphere too. I really am talking about force and acceleration. It's clear that there's more force on a heavier object. How much force do you have to apply to counteract a bucket full of rocks from falling to the ground, vs. an empty bucket? Your arm is certainly applying more force to the former. So then the question becomes Why doesn't the full bucket fall faster? Because it has more inertia, and thus it's more difficult to accelerate. But there's also more force, which overcomes this difficulty. The amount of greater force is exactly identical to the greater inertia, so the acceleration remains the same. The "exactly identical" here is no coincidence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalence_principle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalence_principle
  - taeric 7y ago
    Ah, I see what I screwed up. I was sloppy and saying force, but really only talking about acceleration. So yeah, that makes sense. Similarly, I only mentioned terminal velocity because I said faster. Which could apply there. But my point was focused on acceleration of falling objects. I get that there are a lot of ways to muddy that discussion. As exemplified by my postings. :).
whycombinater 7y ago
But they also exert more force onto the earth. If you drop the sun onto the earth, for example...

taeric 7y ago

That feels wrong. You can say that two larger things attract each other more than smaller things. Especially as they get closer to each other. Catch, of course, is all things on the earth are in the noise range compared to, you know, the earth. If you are talking about gravity and acceleration on the earth, you are talking about 9.8 m/s^2. Pretty much period. And yes, there are terminal velocities that impact maximum speed. Acceleration, though, is not velocity.

dreamcompiler 7y ago
It's correct. Terminal velocity is irrelevant here; it's true outside the atmosphere too. I really am talking about force and acceleration. It's clear that there's more force on a heavier object. How much force do you have to apply to counteract a bucket full of rocks from falling to the ground, vs. an empty bucket? Your arm is certainly applying more force to the former. So then the question becomes Why doesn't the full bucket fall faster? Because it has more inertia, and thus it's more difficult to accelerate. But there's also more force, which overcomes this difficulty. The amount of greater force is exactly identical to the greater inertia, so the acceleration remains the same. The "exactly identical" here is no coincidence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalence_principle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalence_principle
- taeric 7y ago
  Ah, I see what I screwed up. I was sloppy and saying force, but really only talking about acceleration. So yeah, that makes sense. Similarly, I only mentioned terminal velocity because I said faster. Which could apply there. But my point was focused on acceleration of falling objects. I get that there are a lot of ways to muddy that discussion. As exemplified by my postings. :).

whycombinater 7y ago

But they also exert more force onto the earth. If you drop the sun onto the earth, for example...