physics 12 question
Why did Galileo use a ball rolling down an inclined plane to show that falling objects accelerate? Any answer is appreciated.
December 17, 2012
physics 12 question
Why did Galileo use a ball rolling down an inclined plane to show that falling objects accelerate? Any answer is appreciated.
2 Comments • Newest first
Because, according to Newton's proposed laws, an object in equilibrium will remain in equilibrium unless forces act on it in a way that changes its velocity. The ball was initially balanced and began gaining speed as it rolled down the incline. Because force is a product of mass and acceleration, and the ball itself was gaining velocity, and consequentially had a steady acceleration, it was apparent that the object was being acted upon by a force, and because the only force working upon the ball in equilibrium was gravitation, he reasoned that gravity must be a constant force that causes unconditional acceleration.
Assuming during that time they already proved that objects do not have a horizontal acceleration...
The horizontal speed will have increased after going down the incline plane. Vx= sin(angle of incline with respect to ground)