UIUC Physics Lecture Demo: Guinea and Feather In Vacuum

UIUC Physics
Lecture Demonstration
Database

Demo # 318

Guinea and Feather In Vacuum

ID # 318

Description:

A guinea and a feather are dropped simultaneously inside a vacuum tube. They both land at the other end of the tube at the same time because there is no air, and therefore no drag forces which would normally slow down the feather. Thus they both accelerate at the same rate.

Picture of Guinea and Feather In Vacuum

Physics Concept:

Mechanics
Newton's Second Law
Air Resistance

The demonstration takes about 1 minute to perform.