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What is falling faster in a vacuum: A ball or a feather?

Question by Guest | 2018-10-01 at 12:14

Assuming, we have a ball and a feather and drop them next to each other in a vacuum, what would fall faster? The ball or the feather?

Our physics teacher asked that question at school, although I can not do much with it. So I would have spontaneously said that it is the ball that arrives first on the ground, as it is probably heavier than the spring. Am I wrong? Does it play a role that the action is carried out in vacuo?

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A ball and a feather are falling at exactly the same speed in a vacuum.

Normally, you would be right with your assumption that the ball is faster, but less because of the weight than much more because of the air resistance.

In the vacuum, however, you have no air resistance and so both, the ball and the spring fall with an acceleration equal to the gravitational force. The weight also does not matter so that both will arrive at the bottom at the same time.
2018-10-01 at 15:10

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