How does mass affect the acceleration of a falling object?

Question

turingtest · Answer

$$F=ma=G\frac{mM}{r^2}$$now you tell me how the mass m (small m) effects acceleration in this formula

anonymous · Answer

Well that's where I am confused.  I am an Elementary Science Teacher and studying for my PRAXIS II for Middle School.  I know that an increase in mass will cause the force to increase if the acceleration is constant

turingtest · Answer

yeah, but a bigger mass needs more force to accelerate, so...$$ma=G\frac{mM}{r^2}$$the m' cancel...$$a=G\frac M{r^2}$$hence the acceleration of a falling object does not depend on its mass

anonymous · Answer

mass which is the thing that really effects the force and the time taken for a body to fall from a particular height. if two bodys from a height are thrown simultaneously then the body  which is heavier falls down first than compared to the other so mass is a important factor for a body.

jamesj · Answer

What Saratchandra has written is completely wrong, and it's very important you understand that. Ever since Galileo, we understand Saratchandra's explanation of gravity to be wrong. What TuringTest has written is correct and we have hundreds of years of experimental evidence to back it up. One of the best experiments being this one on the moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C5_dOEyAfk