Question map
Two bodies of unequal masses are dropped from a tower. At any instant, they have equal
Explanation
When two bodies of unequal masses are dropped from a tower, they undergo free fall under the influence of gravity [1]. According to Newton's second law and the law of universal gravitation, the acceleration of a falling object is independent of its mass. Galileo demonstrated that all objects, regardless of their weight or size, experience the same constant gravitational acceleration (g), which is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth. While acceleration remains equal for both bodies at any instant, other parameters differ due to their unequal masses. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, and kinetic energy depends on mass and the square of velocity. Similarly, potential energy is proportional to mass. Since the masses are unequal, their momentum, kinetic energy, and potential energy will differ at any given instant, leaving acceleration as the only equal quantity.
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > Activity 5.8: Let us observe > p. 72