Objects don't fall at the same velocity.
* Air resistance: The primary factor affecting the falling velocity is air resistance. Lighter objects with larger surface areas experience more air resistance, slowing their descent. A feather and a bowling ball, for example, will fall at very different speeds.
* Initial Velocity: If an object has an initial upward velocity (like being thrown upwards), its downward velocity will be affected. This initial velocity can delay the time it takes for the object to reach its terminal velocity.
Objects do fall at the same acceleration.
* Acceleration due to gravity: As you mentioned, the Earth's gravitational pull accelerates all objects towards its center at the same rate (9.8 m/s²) regardless of their mass. This means that for every second an object falls, its downward velocity increases by 9.8 m/s.
The misconception:
The idea that objects fall at the same velocity is a simplified concept often presented in introductory physics. In reality, the scenario is more complex and involves air resistance, initial velocity, and other factors.
The famous experiment:
The famous experiment conducted by Galileo Galilei on the Leaning Tower of Pisa demonstrates that objects fall at the same acceleration, not the same velocity. He dropped two objects of different masses, showing they hit the ground simultaneously.
Conclusion:
In a vacuum (where there is no air resistance), all objects would fall at the same velocity. However, in the real world, air resistance plays a significant role, causing objects to fall at different speeds.
