Tap for spoiler

The bowling ball isn’t falling to the earth faster. The higher perceived acceleration is due to the earth falling toward the bowling ball.

  • BB84@mander.xyzOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    13 days ago

    A feather has smaller cross-section area than a bowling ball. But drag acceleration is proportional to the cross-section area divided by the mass (and this quantity is indeed smaller for the bowling ball).

    Anyway the hypothetical scenario in this meme is a perfect vacuum. Check my other comments to see why it still works.

    • aberrate_junior_beatnik@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      13 days ago

      A feather has smaller surface area than a bowling ball.

      Depends on the feather and the bowling ball. Even relatively small (by volume) feathers might outdo a bowling ball thanks to the numerous fine shapes they have.

      • BB84@mander.xyzOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        13 days ago

        I meant cross-section area, not surface area. Sorry. Edited my comment above.

        • aberrate_junior_beatnik@midwest.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          13 days ago

          An average bowling ball is 8.5 inches in diameter, giving it a cross sectional surface area of roughly 60 sq in. Restricting ourselves to feathers made by non-human animals, the longest feather measured was on a Yokohama chicken at 34 feet / 400+ inches. I can’t find the width of the feather, but it’s still likely it outdoes an average bowling ball.

          • BB84@mander.xyzOP
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            13 days ago

            That is one very impressive feather.

            Restricting ourselves to feathers made by non-human animals

            🤔🤔🤔