Why does a feather fall slower than a hammer when dropped from the same height?
When dropped from the same height, a feather falls slower than a hammer due to the effects of air resistance. Air resistance is the force exerted by the air on objects moving through it. Essentially, the feather has a larger surface area compared to its mass, which causes a greater amount of air resistance acting against it when falling.
To understand this concept, consider the forces acting on both objects. The force of gravity acts equally on both the feather and the hammer, causing them to accelerate towards the ground. However, the feather experiences more resistance from the air as it falls due to its larger surface area.
Air resistance primarily depends on two factors: the speed of the object and its surface area. The feather, being light and possessing fine strands, offers a large surface area compared to its mass. As a result, the air particles can collide with and push against the feather more easily. This increased resistance slows down the feather's descent.
On the other hand, a hammer has a comparatively smaller surface area for the same mass. The air particles exert less force on the hammer during its fall, leading to a smaller overall air resistance. Consequently, the hammer falls faster compared to the feather.
In summary, the feather falls slower than the hammer due to the greater air resistance it experiences due to its larger surface area.
Feathers fall slower than hammers when dropped from the same height due to air resistance. Here are the steps explaining this phenomenon:
Step 1: Air Resistance
Air resistance, also known as drag, is the force exerted by the air on any object moving through it. When an object falls through the air, it experiences air resistance in the opposite direction to its motion.
Step 2: Shape and Surface Area
The shape and surface area of an object affect the amount of air resistance it experiences. A feather has a larger surface area and a more irregular shape compared to a hammer. This causes the feather to encounter more air particles as it falls, leading to increased air resistance.
Step 3: Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity
As an object falls through the air, its speed increases. However, as the speed increases, so does the force of air resistance. Eventually, the force of air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity pulling the object down. At this point, the object reaches a maximum speed called terminal velocity. The feather's larger surface area and increased air resistance prevent it from reaching a high terminal velocity, causing it to fall more slowly than the hammer.
In conclusion, while both the feather and hammer experience the force of gravity pulling them downward, the feather's larger surface area and increased air resistance result in it falling slower than the hammer when dropped from the same height.