NIOS Class 10 Science Activity 11.2 Gravitation

In this activity, we will learn whether heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. We have already learnt the effect of height on the speed of falling objects in Activity 11.1 of this chapter.

 

NIOS Class 10 Science and Technology (212) Project File

This activity is based on the NIOS Class 10 science and technology (212) Chapter 11- Gravitation, Module 3- Moving Things.

Does the Mass of the Object affect the Speed of a falling object?

Aim

To demonstrate the relation between mass and the speed of falling objects.

Material Required

    1. Two stones of different masses

Caution: Perform this activity carefully and under the guidance of a teacher/guardian.

Procedure

We ask one of our friends or family members to stand on the rooftop of double double-storied building with two stones of different masses.

Now we stand at a safe distance on the ground and give a signal to drop stones together without any push.

We observe whether the stones hit the ground at the same time or not.

Observation

We observe that both stones of different masses fall with the same speed and hit the ground at the same time.

Explanation

Both the stones hit the ground at the same time because the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is constant and does not affect the mass of objects.

In this case, the resistance of air is also negligible.

Conclusion

This activity explains that the gravitational acceleration on both objects of different masses is the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Why did both stones reach the ground at the same time?

Answer – Because the acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects and is not affected by mass.

    2. Does air resistance affect the speed of falling objects?

Answer – Air resistance can affect the speed of falling objects with larger surface area, but in this activity, the stones have small surfaces, so it does not affect.

   3. Who proved this activity through experiment?

Answer -  Galileo Galilei