Physics
Physics
Problem
Two stones, P and Q, produce readings of 49 N and 98 N respectively on the same spring balance when weighed one after the other at the same place on Earth. (a) Determine the mass of each stone. (b) Which stone possesses greater inertia? State the reason for your choice. (c) If both stones are dropped from the same height in vacuum, will one reach the ground earlier than the other? Give a brief justification for your answer.Intuitive explanation
Weight is the gravitational force on an object, related to mass by . Since both stones are weighed at the same location, they experience the same gravitational acceleration (), so their masses are simply their weights divided by . Inertia is the resistance to acceleration—it's directly proportional to mass, not weight. In vacuum, all objects fall with the same acceleration regardless of mass, so the time to fall depends only on height, not on which stone is heavier.
Intuitive explanation
Weight is the gravitational force on an object, related to mass by . Since both stones are weighed at the same location, they experience the same gravitational acceleration (), so their masses are simply their weights divided by . Inertia is the resistance to acceleration—it's directly proportional to mass, not weight. In vacuum, all objects fall with the same acceleration regardless of mass, so the time to fall depends only on height, not on which stone is heavier.