The discussion centers on the physics of a hammer's fall, emphasizing that all objects, regardless of mass, fall at the same rate due to Earth's gravitational acceleration of -9.8 m/s². Participants clarify that when a hammer is dropped, it maintains its orientation because gravity acts uniformly on its center of mass, creating no torque. The concept of a scale registering zero weight when falling with an object is explained, highlighting that both the scale and the object experience the same gravitational force, resulting in no net force on the scale.
PREREQUISITESStudents studying physics, educators teaching gravitational concepts, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of falling objects and torque.
Why would you expect it to do otherwise?ProfuselyQuarky said:I already know that a hammer will drop to the ground on Earth the way it was held, but I don't understand why.
Do you think that objects with different weight fall at different rates?ProfuselyQuarky said:I already know that a hammer will drop to the ground on Earth the way it was held, but I don't understand why.
They fall in the same rate . . . -9.8 m/s^2phinds said:Do you think that objects with different weight fall at different rates?
then see post #2ProfuselyQuarky said:They fall in the same rate . . . -9.8 m/s^2
Is this it? What about the "scale falling with an object registers zero" part?ProfuselyQuarky said:Hmmm . . . well, now that I think about, would it by any chance fall the same way that it is dropped because, regardless of mass, everything will fall at the same rate? Since the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is -9.8 m/s^2, the heavy side of the hammer will still drop evenly with the lighter wooden side?
The explanation I was reading for class was talking all about how "scale falling with an object registers zero" but I don't know what that means.
Have you ever been in an elevator going down?ProfuselyQuarky said:Is this it? What about the "scale falling with an object registers zero" part?
Post deleted after a PM from the OP.ProfuselyQuarky said:Of course
EDIT: But an elevator isn't in free fall, is it?
ProfuselyQuarky said:Hmmm . . . well, now that I think about, would it by any chance fall the same way that it is dropped because, regardless of mass, everything will fall at the same rate? Since the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is -9.8 m/s^2, the heavy side of the hammer will still drop evenly with the lighter wooden side?
ProfuselyQuarky said:The explanation I was reading for class was talking all about how "scale falling with an object registers zero" but I don't know what that means.
Thank you! You explained the latter part perfectly.Drakkith said:That's exactly it.
It means that since both the scale and the object fall at the same rate, the object isn't applying a force to the scale and thus the scale registers no weight.
That's a nice explanation. Another one ( if you're familiar with the concept of torque) is that the only force acting on a falling body is gravity. Since this acts on the centre of gravity it creates no torque, so the body wouldn't change its orientation.ProfuselyQuarky said:Hmmm . . . well, now that I think about, would it by any chance fall the same way that it is dropped because, regardless of mass, everything will fall at the same rate? Since the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is -9.8 m/s^2, the heavy side of the hammer will still drop evenly with the lighter wooden side?
Wow, I never thought that before! Torque has not yet been covered in my class yet, but I have a brief understanding that it's the measure of the force that causes things to rotate. Torque is NOT a force in of itself, right? Man, I have to look into that for myself, too . . .Aniruddha@94 said:That's a nice explanation. Another one ( if you're familiar with the concept of torque) is that the only force acting on a falling body is gravity. Since this acts on the centre of gravity it creates no torque, so the body wouldn't change its orientation.
Yes, that's right. Torque is not a force, it's the counterpart of force in rotational dynamics.ProfuselyQuarky said:Torque is NOT a force in of itself, right?