All Textbook Topics - Forces and Motion - Gravity Introduction - Air resistance causes objects which are either heavier or more aerodynamic to fall faster than objects which are lighter and less aerodynamic

Air resistance causes objects which are either heavier or more aerodynamic to fall faster than objects which are lighter and less aerodynamic

Without air, all objects fall with the same acceleration and if dropped from the same height, will hit the ground at the same time.

When there is air, this is not the case, and objects that are heavier, and more aerodynamic will hit the ground before objects which are lighter and less aerodynamic.

Above, you can see a hammer and a piece of paper being dropped from the same height. The hammer will hit the ground first as it is heavier and more aerodynamic.

Below, you can see this happening as the camera catches the hammer accelerating ahead of the paper.

As predicted in air, the hammer which is heavier and more aerodynamic hit the ground before the paper.

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If there was no air, all objects would fall to Earth with the same acceleration, no matter the weight

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