http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqCkICXWd…
If there was a heavy set person behind you would they go faster than you? I was watching this video with my friend and he said a light person and a heavy person would go about the same speed and he cited Galileo's experiment on falling objects as his reasoning. But isn't that experiment done with objects being dropped off a high altitude only to drop to the ground? Does that really have any relevance?
If there was a heavy set person behind you would they go faster than you? I was watching this video with my friend and he said a light person and a heavy person would go about the same speed and he cited Galileo's experiment on falling objects as his reasoning. But isn't that experiment done with objects being dropped off a high altitude only to drop to the ground? Does that really have any relevance?
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When falling straight down, a = g
When going down an incline, a = g*sinΘ
In neither case is the acceleration affected by mass.
Galileo's reasoning is perfectly relevant. It applies to any situation where the acceleration is constant, regardless of the value of the acceleration.
Of course, in real life there are various other factors that affect the speed, mainly air drag. If a heavy and light person both have the same area presented to the wind, the heavier will attain a slightly higher speed (terminal velocity).........
When going down an incline, a = g*sinΘ
In neither case is the acceleration affected by mass.
Galileo's reasoning is perfectly relevant. It applies to any situation where the acceleration is constant, regardless of the value of the acceleration.
Of course, in real life there are various other factors that affect the speed, mainly air drag. If a heavy and light person both have the same area presented to the wind, the heavier will attain a slightly higher speed (terminal velocity).........