Why do objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum?

Quick Answer

In a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate because there is no air resistance to slow lighter or less streamlined items. Gravity gives them the same acceleration near Earth, about 9.8 m/s².

The Full Story

Near Earth’s surface, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared for all freely falling objects. Differences we see in everyday life are mainly caused by air drag, which affects feathers, paper, and parachutes much more than dense objects. In a vacuum, where air is removed, a hammer and a feather fall together. This was famously demonstrated during the Apollo 15 mission on the Moon.

Key Facts

1.Earth’s gravitational acceleration is about 9.8 m/s²

2.Air resistance causes most everyday differences in falling speed

3.Apollo 15 astronauts demonstrated hammer-and-feather fall on the Moon

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