this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2024
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Tap for spoilerThe bowling ball isn’t falling to the earth faster. The higher perceived acceleration is due to the earth falling toward the bowling ball.

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[–] pumpkinseedoil@mander.xyz 24 points 1 week ago (28 children)

Why your spoiler is wrong:

The gravitational force between two objects is G(m1 m2)/r²

G = ~6.67 • 10^-11 Nm²/kg²

m1 = Mass of the earth = ~5.972 • 10^24 kg

m2 = Mass of the second object, I'll use M to refer to this from now on

r = ~6378 • 10^3 m

Fg = 6.67 • 10^-11^ Nm²/kg² • 5.972 • 10^24^ kg • M / (6378 • 10^3 m)² = ~9.81 • M N/kg = 9.81 • M m kg / s² / kg = 9.81 • M m/s² = g • M

Since this is the acceleration that works between both masses, it already includes the mass of an iron ball having a stronger gravitational field than that of a feather.

So yes, they are, in fact, taking the same time to fall.

[–] Sasha@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

This is not correct, the force on the objects is the same sure, but the accelerations aren't so you can't calculate them both in one go like this.

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