Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall faster than a light object?

This question delves into the fascinating realm of gravity and the behavior of falling objects, highlighting an essential principle elucidated by scientific pioneers like Galileo Galilei.

1. Uniform Acceleration under Gravity: In an environment devoid of significant air resistance, such as in a vacuum or controlled laboratory conditions, objects undergo the force of gravity uniformly. According to the principles established by Galileo and later solidified by Newton, all objects experience the same acceleration due to gravity, usually denoted as g (approximately 9.81 m/s² near the Earth’s surface).

2. Galileo’s Insightful Experiments: Galileo’s groundbreaking experiments involved dropping objects of various masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. These experiments, disregarding air resistance, showcased that objects, irrespective of their mass, fall at the same rate when subjected to gravity alone.

3. Newton’s Laws and Gravitational Force: Newton’s universal law of gravitation dictates that the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. However, crucially, when discussing the motion of falling objects near Earth’s surface, their acceleration due to gravity remains constant regardless of their mass.

4. Absence of Significant Air Resistance: Air resistance can have a more noticeable effect on lighter objects due to their larger surface area-to-mass ratio. However, when discussing scenarios without significant air resistance, all objects fall at the same rate, demonstrating the equal acceleration of all masses under the influence of gravity alone.

5. Implications of Equivalence Principle: This principle, derived from empirical observations and supported by theoretical frameworks, signifies that, under ideal conditions, objects fall at the same rate regardless of their masses when subjected solely to Earth’s gravitational force. This fundamental aspect elucidates the notion that in a vacuum or near-vacuum environments, the mass of an object does not influence its rate of fall.

Therefore, the reason why a heavier object does not fall faster than a lighter object, under ideal conditions and the influence of gravity alone, stems from the uniform acceleration all objects experience near the Earth’s surface, irrespective of their individual masses. This captivating aspect of physics underscores the equality of gravitational acceleration for all objects, showcasing the intriguing nature of gravity’s impact on the motion of objects in our world.