A student wrote: “The only reason an apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.” Please comment.

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Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 13, Problem 13.1DQ

A student wrote: “The only reason an apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.” Please comment.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

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According to a grade 11 Physics SPH3U course Kinematics, Dynamics, and Energy answer the following question

Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 13, Problem 13.1DQ

A student wrote: “The only reason an apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.” Please comment.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

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01:50

Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 13, Problem 13.1DQ

A student wrote: “The only reason an apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.” Please comment.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

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01:50

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 13, Problem 13.1DQ

A student wrote: “The only reason an apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.” Please comment.

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

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Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

To determine

Validation of the given statement

Answer 12

Explanation of Solution

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The gravitational force exerted on an apple by the earth will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction as the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the apple.

As F=ma, then acceleration a=Fm so the movement of the apple is simply much easier to see as the apple’s smaller mass leads to a larger acceleration. Thus, the increase in speed of the apple as it nears the ground is very apparent. On the other hand, the mass of the earth is very large. Therefore, the value of its acceleration will be much lower.

Conclusion: The reason that apple falls downward to meet the earth instead of the earth rising upward to meet the apple is that the earth is much more massive and so exerts a much greater pull.