Does an Apple’s Gravity Influence Earth’s Movement?

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    apple Falling Ground
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the gravitational interaction between an apple and the Earth, specifically questioning why the Earth's movement is often neglected in physics problems. Participants agree that while the apple does exert a gravitational pull on the Earth, the resulting acceleration is negligible and typically ignored for simplification in educational contexts. The conversation emphasizes the importance of acknowledging that forces impact both objects involved in gravitational interactions, even if the effects are minimal.

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When an apple falls to the ground does it not exert some gravity of it's own on the Earth and thus shortening the distance it falls? Why is it always assumed the Earth does not itself move in physics problems?
 
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mtasquared said:
When an apple falls to the ground does it not exert some gravity of it's own on the Earth and thus shortening the distance it falls?
Sure.
Why is it always assumed the Earth does not itself move in physics problems?
Estimate the Earth's acceleration due to the apple's gravitational pull. Then you'll see why it's ignored.
 
mtasquared said:
When an apple falls to the ground does it not exert some gravity of it's own on the Earth and thus shortening the distance it falls? Why is it always assumed the Earth does not itself move in physics problems?

The idea of ignoring negligible calculations is to make it easier for students who are introduced to these concepts to make the calculations. However I think it should still be said to the students that the apple is causing the Earth to undergo a very very very small acceleration, so that they can be reminded that forces affect both objects.
 
Thanks for replying!
 

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