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submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by BB84@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

Tap for spoilerThe bowling ball isn’t falling to the earth faster. The higher perceived acceleration is due to the earth falling toward the bowling ball.

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[-] Shard@lemmy.world 47 points 2 weeks ago

So will the bowling ball gravitationally attract the earth to itself there by reach the earth an infinitesimally small amount?

[-] BB84@mander.xyz 42 points 2 weeks ago

Yes, the earth accelerates toward the ball faster than it does toward the feather.

[-] SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago

Wouldn’t this be equally offset by the increase in inertia from their masses?

[-] BB84@mander.xyz 33 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

If your bowling ball is twice as massive, the force between it and earth will be twice as strong. But the ball’s mass will also be twice as large, so the ball’s acceleration will remain the same. This is why g=9.81m/s^2 is the same for every object on earth.

But the earth’s acceleration would not remain the same. The force doubles, but the mass of earth remains constant, so the acceleration of earth doubles.

[-] Venator@lemmy.nz 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I wonder how many frames per... picosecond you'd need to capture that on camera... And what zoom level you'd need to see it.

I think the roughness of the surface of the bowling ball would have a bigger impact on the time, in that the surface might be closer at some points if it were to rotate while falling.

[-] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Considering the mass of the earth, I wouldn't be surprised if it'd be nearly impossible to capture a difference between a feather or bowling ball. You might have to release them at 100m or 1000m above the surface, but then maybe the moons miniscule atmosphere or density variances will have more of an effect.

[-] Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

But if you're dropping them at the same time right next to each other, the earth is so large they would functionally be one object and pull the earth at the same combined acceleration.

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this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2024
261 points (86.6% liked)

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