Free-Fall Lab

Class XI · Kinematics: does mass matter? Vacuum vs. air.

Air

y vs. t (height)

v vs. t (speed)

v_max so far: 1.00 m/s

Controls

Mass A1.00 kg

Mass B5.00 kg

Height H50 m

Gravity g9.80 m/s²

Drag k0.20 kg/m

Live readouts

t0.00 s

yA / vA50.0 m / 0.0 m/s

yB / vB50.0 m / 0.0 m/s

v_terminal A7.0 m/s

v_terminal B15.7 m/s

Formula

Vacuum:  ma = mg  →  a = g  (mass cancels)
Air:     m dv/dt = mg − k v²
         v_t = √(mg/k)   (terminal velocity)

Try this: Vacuum mode: set mA = 0.1 and mB = 20. They land together. Now switch to Air and watch the heavier ball pull ahead because its terminal velocity v_t = √(mg/k) is larger.

Free-Fall Lab

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