Here's why:
* Gravity and Mass: The force of gravity is what pulls objects towards the Earth. The more massive an object is, the stronger the force of gravity acting on it.
* Air Resistance: In the real world, air resistance plays a significant role. Objects with larger surface areas or less aerodynamic shapes experience more air resistance, slowing them down.
* Vacuum: In a vacuum, there is no air resistance. This means that the only force acting on the objects is gravity. Since the objects have the same mass, they experience the same gravitational force and will fall at the same rate.
The famous experiment: This concept was famously demonstrated by Galileo Galilei, who is said to have dropped objects of different masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. While the exact story might be apocryphal, the principle is sound. In a vacuum, a feather and a bowling ball would fall at the same rate.
Important Note: In everyday life, air resistance makes a big difference. That's why a feather falls much slower than a bowling ball. But in a vacuum, the shape and size of the object don't matter as much.
