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The bowling ball isn’t falling to the earth faster. The higher perceived acceleration is due to the earth falling toward the bowling ball.

  • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    It does change the vector though. There’s no (well barely any) friction in space. In fact pushing the fridge with one finger rather than pushing the fridge will move and rotate the earth at incomprehensibly small velocity for a short time.

    • UltraHamster64@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      It does change the vector, yes, but to such a small amount that it does not become pointed at a ball.

      You can substitute static friction with a gravitational pull of the sun, and the result is going to be the same as in fridge example

      • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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        1 day ago

        Static friction causes that result because it matches the force it’s resisting. Gravity doesn’t do that, so while the total vector will still be pointing away from the ball, it will point away from it with a slightly smaller magnitude.