Watermelon vs Egg
When we drop an egg and a watermelon such that initially their bottom most points are at the same level, which will hit the ground first?
( Air Resistance is negligible in this condition )
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1 solution
Just an improvement: It would have been better if you had shown this equation for gravitational force F g = r 2 G M m = m a g ∴ a g = r 2 G M
Because the one you wrote is for force in general, but still nice question and explanation! ⌣ ¨
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Question should probably state that the objects are in a vacuum or that forces besides gravity are negligible, but a good question nonetheless.
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Yeah but when you see an egg and a watermelon drop with slowmotion, you can't see the different cause of the air resistance from the slowmotion video. It's so small like 1 m m different. Anyways, Egg should hit the ground first if you look closely because the area of egg is smaller than Watermelon
Only in a vacuum, air resistance has an effect.
But shouldn't we look at this logically , although the acceleration is equal,the watermelon would still hit the floor first as it is larger ?
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Tan Yi Xun
Let me explain this formula, sorry I make little complicated
p = A F
p = Pressure ( P a )
F = Air Resistance ( N )
A = Area of the falling object ( m 2 )
Pressure on the two falling object with the same height is always the same
From the above equation we can conclude that
" When the area of falling object is small, the air resistance also is small. When the area of a falling object is big, the air resistance also getting big "
Meaning that egg hit the ground first
But why the answer is both fall at the same time
BECAUSE I SAID AIR RESISTANCE IS NEGLIGIBLE IN THIS CONDITION, MEANING BOTH DROP AT THE SAME TIME
CHEERRRSSS
Maybe someone can correct me here?
If you threw 2 spheres at the exact same time, yes they would fall at the same rate. But... the object with more surface area would impact the ground slightly before the smaller. One object has a greater surface area, but both objects would be thrown based on the center of gravity. The larger melon would touch the ground first if the center of gravity of both objects were identically thrown. (Without air resistance)
It is indeed true, the center of masses of the watermelon and the egg remain at the same level. But I think their radii difference has been neglected, nevertheless it should be mentioned in the question for clarity. @Brilliant Physics
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I've updated the problem statement for clarity.
During the fall, watermelon as well as egg fall with the same acceleration towards the surface of the earth.
Remember, gravitational force between two bodies always depend on their mass ( F = m a ), but acceleration due to gravity doesn't depend on the mass of the body ( a = t v )