Question

the force of gravity on a 2 - kg rock is twice as great as that on a 1 - kg rock. if both are released from rest, why doesnt the heavier rock fall downwards faster? explain in terms of physics concepts/principles. (you do not need a separate written work submission for this question but instead can just type in your explanation here.)

Explanation:

According to Newton's second - law $F = ma$ and the gravitational force formula $F=mg$. For a falling object, $mg = ma$, so $a = g$. The acceleration due to gravity $g$ is a constant near the Earth's surface (about $9.8\ m/s^{2}$) and is independent of the mass of the object. So both rocks have the same acceleration and fall at the same rate.

Answer:

Both rocks have the same acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface. According to Newton's second - law and the gravitational force formula, the mass cancels out, resulting in the same acceleration for both rocks regardless of their mass, so they fall at the same rate.