A very dumb question (about different masses and accelerations)

[physio]

Why do different masses released at the same time fall to the ground with the same acceleration. Isn't the universal law of gravitation F=G*M(e)*m/r^2? i.e. if masses are unequal the force on both the objects will be different and hence acceleration will be unequal...

 

[ZapperZ]

Why do different masses released at the same time fall to the ground with the same acceleration. Isn't the universal law of gravitation F=G*M(e)*m/r^2? i.e. if masses are unequal the force on both the objects will be different and hence acceleration will be unequal...

Please start by reading the FAQ subforum in the General Physics forum

Zz.

 

[azizlwl]

Why do different masses released at the same time fall to the ground with the same acceleration. Isn't the universal law of gravitation F=G*M(e)*m/r^2? i.e. if masses are unequal the force on both the objects will be different and hence acceleration will be unequal...

F=ma
a=F/m ...(1)
From your post,
F=G*M(e)*m/r^2

Subtitute in equation (1)

a= F/m=(G*M(e)*m/(r^2m)= G*M(e)*/r^2
You see m is missing in final equation.
Acceleration due to gravity does not depend on the mass.

 

[CWatters]

Why do different masses released at the same time fall to the ground with the same acceleration. Isn't the universal law of gravitation F=G*M(e)*m/r^2? i.e. if masses are unequal the force on both the objects will be different and hence acceleration will be unequal...

Increasing the mass does indeed increase the force but increasing the mass also reduces the acceleration (f=ma so a=f/m).

Overall the mass cancels as per the answer by azizlwl.