Here's why:
* Gravity's Constant Pull: Gravity exerts the same force on all objects, regardless of their mass. This means a feather and a bowling ball will accelerate towards the Earth at the same rate (approximately 9.8 m/s²).
* Air Resistance: In a vacuum, where there is no air resistance, this principle holds perfectly true. However, in reality, air resistance can affect lighter objects more significantly, slowing them down. This is why a feather falls much slower than a bowling ball in the air.
The Myth of the Hammer and Feather:
The famous experiment by astronaut David Scott on the Moon demonstrated this principle. In the absence of an atmosphere, a hammer and a feather dropped simultaneously reached the lunar surface at the same time.
In Conclusion:
While heavier objects have greater inertia, this doesn't affect the rate at which they fall in a vacuum. Gravity pulls on all objects equally, making them accelerate at the same rate.
