On page 2 of the Investigating Gravity lesson, you were asked to "drop two objects of different masses and measure how long they take to fall." Can you think of any objects that would not work for this experiment?
There are certain objects that would not be suitable for this experiment. Here are a few examples:
1. Feather: Due to its light weight and large surface area, a feather would experience significant air resistance, causing it to fall much slower than other objects. This would not provide accurate results for comparing the falling times of objects with different masses.
2. Helium-filled balloon: A helium-filled balloon would rise instead of falling due to the buoyant force acting upwards. This would not be suitable for measuring the falling time.
3. Objects with irregular shapes or high wind resistance: Objects with irregular shapes or those designed to have high wind resistance (such as a parachute or a paper airplane) may experience unpredictable motions or slower falling times due to the additional forces acting on them.
4. Objects that could cause damage or injury upon falling: It is important to choose objects that will not cause damage or injury upon impact. Heavy or fragile objects that could break or harm the surroundings should be avoided for safety reasons.
In order to obtain accurate and reliable results while comparing falling times based on mass, it is best to choose objects that are similar in shape, composition, and size, but differ only in their masses.