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[-] frezik 53 points 1 month ago

A similar size chunk of iron and coal would have done the experiment just fine. Any two objects of the same shape and size but significantly different densities.

[-] missingno@fedia.io 60 points 1 month ago

If two objects have the same size and shape, the force applied by air resistance will be the same. However, if two objects have different mass, that same force will result in different acceleration.

[-] StellarExtract@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

While that is true, two properly selected objects (such as the ones mentioned above) can reduce the effect of air resistance to levels negligible to human perception, demonstrating that heavier objects do not intrinsically fall faster.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago

The difference is the different buoyancy of the balls in air. That's negligible.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The acceleration will be 1G minus drag. The Earth is sufficiently larger than anything one would drop off a tower so the weight of the dropped thing doesn't matter at all

How does your model of the universe explain the hammer and feather dropped on the moon by Apollo 15's David Scott landed at the same time?

Ed. There is an effect of buoyancy that will make denser things fall faster. It becomes noticeable in distances where the dropped items reach terminal velocity or on more dense media where buoyancy is more significant.

In air over short distances buoyancy is negligible, in vacuum there is none

[-] missingno@fedia.io 20 points 1 month ago

minus drag

On Earth, this is the part that makes it so that objects do not fall at the same speed.

on the moon

This is the type of experiment they could not do 2000 years ago.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

minus drag

On Earth, this is the part that makes it so that objects do not fall at the same speed.

That is incorrect. Drag affects both equally. The difference is caused by buoyancy, less dense objects feel more buoyancy

[-] missingno@fedia.io 7 points 1 month ago

If F is the same but m is different, what happens to a?

[-] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The Earth is ~~sufficiently~~ larger than anything one would drop off a tower that the weight of the dropped thing doesn't matter at all

F=ma.

Two items of the same shape will have the same amount of air resistance. If they have significantly different masses, the two object experience commensurately different accelerations (or reduction in acceleration), even if the force is the same.

If you take a balloon full of tetrahexofluroride (a gas 6x the density of air) and a chunk of iron the exact same size and shape and throw them off a building, I guarantee the iron chunk will hit first.

How does your model of the universe explain the hammer and feather dropped on the moon by Apollo 15's David Scott landed at the same time?

It's called a vacuum, which is famous for not having air resistance. Y'know, the thing we're talking about?

To perform the experiment properly on Earth where there is air resistance, you need to pick a shape and range of masses that minimize the effect of air resistance

[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago

You are wrong. Falling in a medium is slowed by buoyancy and drag

F=ma has nothing to do with it

[-] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

buoyancy and drag

F=ma has nothing to do with it

Motherfucker, do you seriously not understand that buoyancy and drag are forces?!?!

Sit yo' Dunning-Kruger ass down

[-] oftheair 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

Without the m as the browser will decide for itself if it needs the mobile version.

[-] Mozart409@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Valid crashout. 🤣

[-] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

They could just drop an empty bs filled wine bottle.

Maybe fill it with mercury (but don’t drink it)

this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2025
871 points (100.0% liked)

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