Question

Why doesn't a heavy object accelerate more than a light object when both are freely falling?

Answer 1

It is because the acceleration due to gravity is a constant in a particular region.

Gravity doesn't accelerate heavy objects faster and light objects slower.

Explanation:

The gravitational force between the earth (mass `M`) and an object of mass `m` may be given as,

`F = (GMm)/r^(2)` with `r` being the separation.

Now from Newton's second law (applied to the dynamics of the mass `m`),

`F = ma` where `a` is the acceleration.

Equating the two, `ma = (GMm)/r^2`

`implies a = (GM)/r^2`

This gives that the acceleration due to the gravity of some object (the mass `M`) is independent of mass `m` of object which is being accelerated.

And free fall is due to the gravitational force due to the earth. This explains why the acceleration due to gravity is constant.