Question

Course Task

As I sat under an Oak tree I recognized some similar comparisons to what Isaac Newton saw under his apple tree.
I saw three different objects fall to the ground…an acorn, a leaf, and a small stick. I wondered how and why they fell the way they did. The stick fell from the very top of the tree and seemed to almost “slow down” about half way down. The acorn got faster all the way to the ground. Yet the leaf would just float back and forth in a calm rhythm like motion.
Furthermore, I could see the moon sitting up in the sky just waiting to peak over the trees at dark.
How is it that all objects are apparently affected by the earth’s gravity but they seem to respond differently? If gravity is a force that affects all objects…shouldn’t all objects respond the same? Interesting Phenomenon huh….

Can you explain what is happening with each of these four objects (including the moon)?

Answer 1

gravity effects only the mass of an object

Step-by-step explanation:

an acorn is heavier that a stick and it's round shape gives it less wind resistance so gravity pulls it down faster. A stick vertical has little wind resistance but when rotated to when it is horizontal it has more resistance so it slows down but the the force of gravity is still as strong. A leaf has very little mass and it's shape provideds lots of wind resistance so it falls slower. The moon is not only effected by the earth's gravity it is also effected by the suns. It has its own gravity as well. with all these factors it stays in place and moves with the earth.