• Question: what would happen if you dropped a feather from the moon?

    Asked by to Andrew, Elaine, Emma, Michael, Nancy on 18 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Michael Kelly

      Michael Kelly answered on 18 Jun 2014:

      It would land on the moon, the gravitational pull on the moon’s surface would pull the feather towards it.

    • Photo: Andrew French

      Andrew French answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Michael’s exactly right.
      What I’m not sure of is whether it would fall quicker that on earth. The pull of gravity is weaker on the moon (about 1/6 as strong as on earth) BUT there is no atmosphere to provide air resistance and slow it down. On earth, the biggest thing slowing a feather down is the push of the air against it, like a parachute (they can blow away even!)
      Something to think about!!

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