- #1
Nightowl
Hi,
I teach a physics class to a group of homeschooled students. Many of them aren't yet at the level of algebra.
Last week we went over Newton's laws and did some experiments to show objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass. One student though, has asked me to explain why the mass doesn't matter. He believes that the acceleration is different even if it is so small we can't detect it to be so (because of the different masses of the objects).
I assured him that the mass of objects doesn't matter when it comes to the acceleration of gravity, but that the force each mass feels is different. The trouble I'm having is that my own brain can't get past the math. I can prove it using math, but he isn't at the level of understanding that yet. He's a very smart boy, and I think asking excellent questions so I want to explain in a way to have his lightbulb go off. But so far, everything I've come across to help me get past my own teaching limitations (as in I can't show him the math to prove it and I'm stumped) also uses math, or just says it doesn't depend on it without explanation. I'm not a fan of "that's the way it is" type of answers. I really want to help him "get it".
Any suggestions on how to help him understand the mass of the Earth matters but the mass of the objects don't? Without using math. ; )
Thanks in advance!
I teach a physics class to a group of homeschooled students. Many of them aren't yet at the level of algebra.
Last week we went over Newton's laws and did some experiments to show objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass. One student though, has asked me to explain why the mass doesn't matter. He believes that the acceleration is different even if it is so small we can't detect it to be so (because of the different masses of the objects).
I assured him that the mass of objects doesn't matter when it comes to the acceleration of gravity, but that the force each mass feels is different. The trouble I'm having is that my own brain can't get past the math. I can prove it using math, but he isn't at the level of understanding that yet. He's a very smart boy, and I think asking excellent questions so I want to explain in a way to have his lightbulb go off. But so far, everything I've come across to help me get past my own teaching limitations (as in I can't show him the math to prove it and I'm stumped) also uses math, or just says it doesn't depend on it without explanation. I'm not a fan of "that's the way it is" type of answers. I really want to help him "get it".
Any suggestions on how to help him understand the mass of the Earth matters but the mass of the objects don't? Without using math. ; )
Thanks in advance!
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