What does the law of gravity state about the rate of fall for objects?

Prepare for the OAR Mechanical Comprehension Test with comprehensive study materials. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

The law of gravity, as described by Sir Isaac Newton, states that all objects experience the same gravitational acceleration when in free fall, regardless of their mass. This means that in a vacuum, where there is no air resistance, both heavier and lighter objects will fall at the same rate. This principle was famously demonstrated by dropping a feather and a hammer on the Moon, where there is no atmosphere to impede their fall, illustrating that they hit the ground simultaneously.

The notion that the rate of fall is the same regardless of weight is fundamental to understanding how gravity acts on objects. While it may seem intuitive that heavier objects would fall faster due to their weight, the effects of gravity act uniformly on all masses. Therefore, when neglecting air resistance, the weight of an object does not influence how fast it falls toward the Earth.

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