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Question

Question: Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does...

Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall faster than a light object?

Explanation

Solution

The solution for this statement is given by the equation which shows the relation between the force of the object, mass of the object and acceleration of the object. By using this relation in two ways, then the solution for the given statement is determined.
Useful formula:
The relation between the force of the object, mass of the object and acceleration of the object is given by,
F=maF = ma
Where, FF is the force of the object, mm is the mass of the object and aa is the acceleration of the object.

Complete step by step solution:
By the relation between the force of the object, mass of the object and acceleration of the object,
F=maF = ma,
Here, the force of the object is acting directly proportional to the mass of the object and the acceleration of the object. But, from the above equation the acceleration of the object is given by,
a=Fma = \dfrac{F}{m},
Here the acceleration is acting directly proportional to the force of the object and acceleration of the object is acting inversely proportional to the mass of the object. So, the mass of the object increases and the acceleration of the object decreases. But the force of the object is directly proportional to the mass, so that all the object which falls towards the earth at the same speed.

Note: When we drop the two objects from the top to bottom, if the mass of the two objects is not equal, the force acting on the two objects are equal because the speed of the object which falls on the earth depends on the mass of the earth not on the mass of the object.