Tuesday 3 November 2015

Gravity

We are learning all about gravity.
What keeps us from floating off into space?
Why does rain always fall down?
What would happen if we dropped different objects that are exactly the same, would they always land together? (yes, unless they float down unevenly on the air currents)
What if we dropped objects that were exactly the same size and weight but had a different shape, which would land first?  (the one that is folded or rolled smallest so air resistance doesn't work too well on it)
What if we dropped objects that were exactly the same size and shape but had different weights, which would land first?
We tried all these out for ourselves.
Here's a great way to test out what would happen using balls of different weights and a feather, in our atmosphere and where there is no atmosphere at all:
So, what happened when astronauts on the moon tried dropping a hammer and a feather.
 Since they are different sizes, weights and shapes will one land faster than the other?
Will the fact that there is no air on the moon matter?
Is there gravity on the moon?  Will they both float into outer space?
Have a look:
Here's what happened when Brian Cox tried this in a vacuum chamber:

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