Epic Gravity Drop Race Challenge
⚠️ Safety Warning
Use a sturdy chair and have an adult supervise when standing on elevated surfaces.
All experiments require adult supervision.
Materials You'll Need
Gather these 5 items before starting
💡 Tip: Check off items as you gather them to stay organized!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these 7 steps carefully
In this challenge, stand on a chair or at the top of a staircase (with adult supervision).
Hold the tennis ball in one hand and the sheet of paper in the other at the same height.
Drop both at the same time and observe which hits the ground first.
Now crumple the paper into a tight ball and repeat the experiment.
Compare the results — what changed?
Try the same experiment with the coin and feather.
Record your observations for each combination.
✅ Remember: Take your time with each step and ask an adult for help if needed!
The Science Behind It 🔬
Gravity pulls everything toward Earth at the same rate — about 9.8 meters per second squared. But air resistance (drag) slows down objects with large surface areas like flat paper or feathers. When you crumple the paper, you reduce its surface area so air resistance has less effect, and it falls almost as fast as the ball. In a vacuum with no air, a feather and a bowling ball would hit the ground at exactly the same time! The physics behind this experiment was first discovered hundreds of years ago and is still being studied today.