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graywolf624 · 02-02-2007, 09:26 PM

Your arguements aren't all that clear guys. You aren't clearly denoting the objects acceleration.

In absolute terms:
F= mass x acceleration. The force of gravity is directly related to the mass of the object (duh). Your simultaneously changing both the F orce of gravity and the mass on the other side in the same proportion. Thus the masses cancel out leaving acceleration to be unaffected by the individual masses. It is a simple algebra problem. The two items will accelerate and travel at the same speed no matter what the mass. F=G(Mem1/r^2)=m1*a m1 cancels out to G(ME/r^2)=a Where Mass of the earth (Me) Mass of the object m1. r= distance from earth. a= acceleration of object. G= gravitational constant
Thus the rate of acceleration of the object dropped only depends on the distance from the earth!

But... And I say but..
If you take the same objects acceleration relative to the earth you have to account for the movement of the earth itself due to the object.
The earth is accelerating towards the item that is dropped. And the bigger the object the greater the force on the earth.
Again the equation is F=G(Mem1/r^2)= Me*a.... This time Me cancels
Giving you G(m1/r^2)=a on the earth.... Meaning the acceleration of the earth is proportional to the weight of the object.

Thus the answer becomes, what frame of reference are you watching the object from. If you are watching from earth there would be an acceleration difference. If you are watching from a frame of reference from somewhere off planet the objects will accelerate with the same rate.

02-02-2007, 09:26 PM	#30
graywolf624 Regular User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hellaware USA Posts: 3,865	Your arguements aren't all that clear guys. You aren't clearly denoting the objects acceleration. In absolute terms: F= mass x acceleration. The force of gravity is directly related to the mass of the object (duh). Your simultaneously changing both the F orce of gravity and the mass on the other side in the same proportion. Thus the masses cancel out leaving acceleration to be unaffected by the individual masses. It is a simple algebra problem. The two items will accelerate and travel at the same speed no matter what the mass. F=G(Mem1/r^2)=m1a m1 cancels out to G(ME/r^2)=a Where Mass of the earth (Me) Mass of the object m1. r= distance from earth. a= acceleration of object. G= gravitational constant Thus the rate of acceleration of the object dropped only depends on the distance from the earth! But... And I say but.. If you take the same objects acceleration relative to the earth you have to account for the movement of the earth itself due to the object. The earth is accelerating towards the item that is dropped. And the bigger the object the greater the force on the earth. Again the equation is F=G(Mem1/r^2)= Mea.... This time Me cancels Giving you G(m1/r^2)=a on the earth.... Meaning the acceleration of the earth is proportional to the weight of the object. Thus the answer becomes, what frame of reference are you watching the object from. If you are watching from earth there would be an acceleration difference. If you are watching from a frame of reference from somewhere off planet the objects will accelerate with the same rate. __________________ Common Sense- so rare it's a super power.