For a long time, Reeko has been trying to convince his readers that despite mind-boggling implications, Galileo was correct – all objects fall at the same rate regardless of how heavy they are. In other words, mass does not affect gravitational pull. Theoretically, in a vacuum, if you dropped a school bus (yes, yes, imagine the principal inside if you really must add dramatic effect) and a feather from a tower, both would hit the ground at the same time (and the principal would be very unhappy). Wait – don’t leave yet! We’re not making this stuff up!
In 1971, on his last day on the moon, Apollo 15 Commander David Scott tested this theory. In one hand, he took a heavy 1.32kg geological hammer. In his other, a light 30g falcon bird feather (44 times lighter than the hammer). He dropped both at the exact same time and as suspected, they hit the ground simultaneously [sound of applause while a blushing Reeko takes a bow].
Check out the video below (and yes, it has a surprise ending).
On Earth, the atmosphere causes aerodynamic drag (a trait that parachutists praise every time they jump out of a plane). The effect of “drag” is especially compounded with an object that has a large surface area – such as a feather. Thus, our everyday experience makes us want to *think* that heavier objects fall faster in all situations – not true.
As I’m sure you have already guessed, that means a parachute on the Moon would not work although on Mars, which has an atmosphere (albeit a thin one), parachutes serve their purpose quite well.
