Physics for kids ages 9 to 12
Faster
Purpose To demonstrate that heavier things
fall faster than lighter things.
Materials
paper
book, larger than the paper
Procedure
1. Hold the paper in one hand and the book in the other, keeping both
waist-high.
2. Drop the book and the paper at the same time.
3. Observe the paper and book as they fall and strike the floor.
Results The book hits the floor before the
paper does.
Why? Gravity causes the speed of falling objects to increase at a rate of 32
feet per second (9.8 m per second) for every second of falling time. All
things would fall at this rate, regardless of their weight, in a vacuum. But
air molecules in the earth's atmosphere push against falling objects and slow
their falling rate. Heavier objects, such as the book, push through the air
with more force than do lightweight objects, such as the paper. Thus, heavier
objects fall through air faster than do lightweight objects.
