The hammer and the Feather

17-08-2006, 15:46

If I dropped a hammer from a set height onto the moon, measured and recorded the time it took to fall, and then repeated the process with a feather
would the two results be Identical?

danielf · 17-08-2006, 15:49

Yes. Would you build a tower of Pisa first?

gazzae · 17-08-2006, 15:51

They've already done it...

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary...ther_drop.html

17-08-2006, 16:13

Time to reveal the Answer.

If you voted for the Hammer striking the ground first you are correct.
The hammer and moon would collide in less time than the hammer and feather because the hammer has more mass than the feather. Do not forget that the moon will move towards whichever object is dropped as well as the object to the moon.
I was careful to indicate they would be dropped separately.

Incidentally EVEN if dropped at the same time from the same height the Hammer would STILL strike the ground first but is your grasp of mathematics good enough to explain why?

danielf · 17-08-2006, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by willco

Incidentally EVEN if dropped at the same time from the same height the Hammer would STILL strike the ground first but is your grasp of mathematics good enough to explain why?

Unless you dropped them from the same location presumably?

17-08-2006, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Unless you dropped them from the same location presumably?

As close as you like side-by-side even (since they cannot both occupy the same space at the same time.) Do I detect another mathematician who has 'clicked' ??

Incidentally It was I who voted the Hammer would strike first.

danielf · 17-08-2006, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by willco

As close as you like side-by-side even (since they cannot both occupy the same space at the same time.) Do I detect another mathematician who has 'clicked' ??

Incidentally It was I who voted the Hammer would strike first.

A geometrician more like.

17-08-2006, 18:01

Let's keep it at mathematician as several branches are required.

TheBlueRaja · 17-08-2006, 18:11

So - eh - let me get this straight - willco = right, NASA = wrong?

Thats a bold claim.

danielf · 17-08-2006, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by willco

Let's keep it at mathematician as several branches are required.

Ah, but no calculations were required. A graphical/spatial representation sufficed.

17-08-2006, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

So - eh - let me get this straight - willco = right, NASA = wrong?

Thats a bold claim.

Er what has Nasa got to do with it? - if you are refering to them dropping a hammer and feather on the moon, that was hardly scientific, It's more like Newton Correct (sort of) Willco Correct. Put the numbers into the formula (ALL FOUR Formula) not just two, then with a little Pythagorus it will all become apparent - you will need a scientific calculater as you will be dealing with numbers as small as 2.2109 * 10^-9. (using a hammer weight of 10.001Kg and a feather weight of 0.001Kg

**Maggy J** · 17-08-2006, 20:08

You know this is not a question it would ever occur to me to ask..Because the question I want to know is WHY would you be dropping a hammer and a feather at the same time on the moon?See it might appear to be logical and mathematical but I cannot for the life of me see under what circumstances you would find yourself on the moon with a feather and and a hammer.I can think of more exciting things to do...like hopping.

I think more interesting questions are the ones about sex in space(and the moon).

Like has anyone done it yet?is it feasible?Is conception possible?Would they still need viagra?

TheBlueRaja · 17-08-2006, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by willco

Er what has Nasa got to do with it? - if you are refering to them dropping a hammer and feather on the moon, that was hardly scientific, It's more like Newton Correct (sort of) Willco Correct. Put the numbers into the formula (ALL FOUR Formula) not just two, then with a little Pythagorus it will all become apparent - you will need a scientific calculater as you will be dealing with numbers as small as 2.2109 * 10^-9. (using a hammer weight of 10.001Kg and a feather weight of 0.001Kg

You say that dropping a hammer and a feather on the moon would result in the hammer hitting the ground first, the link posted above to NASA by gazzae says otherwise.

Fancy math or not its you v's Nasa and Galileo on this one and im not liking your chances.

danielf · 17-08-2006, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

You say that dropping a hammer and a feather on the moon would result in the hammer hitting the ground first, the link posted above to NASA by gazzae says otherwise.

Fancy math or not its you v's Nasa and Galileo on this one and im not liking your chances.

I think that what Willco is on about is an effect that, if existing is infinitely small. The gravitational pull of the hammer is larger than the pull of the feather. Hence, the hammer will displace the moon by an infinitely small, but larger amount then the feather. As a result, the hammer has less far to drop, so will arrive earlier (in theory). In practice, they will arive at the same time, as the time difference could probably not be measured.

**Chris** · 17-08-2006, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

I think that what Willco is on about is an effect that, if existing is infinitely small. The gravitational pull of the hammer is larger than the pull of the feather. Hence, the hammer will displace the moon by an infinitely small, but larger amount then the feather. As a result, the hammer has less far to drop, so will arrive earlier (in theory). In practice, they will arive at the same time, as the time difference could probably not be measured.

What is it with Cable Forum and discussion of the fine details of the theory of gravity lately?