Here's why:
* Gravity's Constant Pull: The force of gravity acts equally on all objects, regardless of their mass. This means both objects will accelerate towards the ground at the same rate, known as the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²).
* No Air Resistance: Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of an object through the air. In a vacuum, this force is absent, allowing the objects to fall freely under the influence of gravity alone.
The famous experiment: This is the basis for the famous thought experiment (and real-life demonstration) attributed to Galileo Galilei. He theorized that if you dropped a feather and a cannonball in a vacuum, they would fall at the same rate. This demonstrates that the acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass.
Important Note: In reality, air resistance does play a role, and objects with larger surface areas or less dense materials will experience more drag, causing them to fall slower. This is why a feather falls much slower than a rock in the real world.
