Comment on Falling

JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

• dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  The gravitational constant G, no, the mutual gravitational force between the earth and the ball approximated as g, yes.

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  • Faresh@lemmy.ml ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    But how would that make the bowling ball fall faster? F = G × m₁ × m₂ / r² and F = m₁ × a ⇒ a = F / m = G × m₂ / r², where m₁ is the mass of the ball and m₂ the mass of the planet. So the gravitational acceleration of a bowling ball is independent of its mass.

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    • Zehzin@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I guess the bowling ball attract the earth towards it, shortening the distance which from the bowling ball’s perspective means it’s faster

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• hddsx@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  No. F=GMm/d2. The mass of the earth doesn’t change so g=GM/d2 will not change

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  • Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Ah but the earth doesn’t just attract the ball or feather. The bowling ball attracts the earth as well, and since it has more mass, it will pull the earth towards it faster than the feather.

    But if you drop them at the same time, that’s moot.

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    • hddsx@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      In other words, the feather and ball are both attracted to the earth at the same rate but because the ball has a higher mass, the earth is very slightly more attracted to the ball

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      • Honytawk@lemmy.zip ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Maybe the ball is just more of their type?

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  • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    So why does the bowling ball fall faster in a vacuum? Does it appear faster locally because the heavier object makes local time slower than the lighter object compared to a distant observer? I’m trying to understand what the meme is getting at.

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    • Tja@programming.dev ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      That’s the neat thing: it doesn’t

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    • Drewfro66@lemmygrad.ml ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The bowling ball also pulls the earth towards itself. This amount is imperceptibly small but still there

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    • hddsx@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I’m trying to understand as well.

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    • dev_null@lemmy.ml ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Because it, ever so slightly, pulls Earth towards it with it’s own, miniscule gravity.

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      • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        But that doesn’t make the bowling ball fall faster to a distant observer, just the earth fall twords the ball. To an observer on earth it would appear to fall faster though.

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• itsnotits@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  because of its* greater mass

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