Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
When Brian Cox releases a bowling ball and a feather together inside NASA’s evacuated Space Power Facility, they reach the floor essentially at the same time. Removing the air removes the drag that normally lets the bowling ball win; it does not remove gravity. In the ideal experiment, both objects have the same downward gravitational acceleration.
What the BBC demonstration shows
The drop appeared in BBC’s Human Universe, presented by Brian Cox. A feather and a bowling ball were placed in NASA’s Space Power Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, the site formerly known as Plum Brook Station. After the chamber was evacuated, both objects were released from approximately the same height and fell together.
The segment and its November 4, 2014 coverage are identified by Futurism; the linked BBC video is available on YouTube. The available documentation does not state the filmed drop’s exact ball mass, feather type, release height, chamber pressure or measured time difference.
Why the feather loses in an ordinary room
Two forces matter during a fall: gravity pulls downward, while air resistance (drag) opposes motion. A bowling ball has substantial weight compared with its cross-sectional area, so drag is relatively small. A feather has little weight, a broad irregular surface and a low terminal speed, so air drag is large compared with its weight.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Thus the feather’s slow fall in air is not evidence that gravity accelerates it less strongly. It is evidence that the atmosphere interferes with its motion. Remove most of the air and that difference largely disappears.
The physics in one equation
Near Earth’s surface, the gravitational force on an object is approximately:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Fg = mg
Newton’s second law says:
F = ma
Equating the ideal gravitational force with the net force gives ma = mg, so the nonzero mass cancels and a = g. The objects still have different masses and therefore different gravitational forces, but each object’s resistance to acceleration increases in the same proportion. With negligible drag and the same release conditions, both accelerate at roughly 9.8 m/s² locally.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat the vacuum changes
A vacuum greatly reduces the number of air molecules striking the objects, suppressing aerodynamic drag and turbulence. It need not contain literally zero molecules: the remaining gas only has to produce negligible resistance compared with gravity. The feather is not weightless, and gravity has not switched off.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
NASA says this facility can reach pressures below 4 × 10−6 Torr in less than eight hours. That is a current capability of the facility, not a documented pressure for the 2014 filmed drop.
Inside NASA’s Space Power Facility
NASA describes the chamber as the world’s largest space-simulation vacuum chamber, a more precise claim than calling it the largest vacuum chamber of every kind. It is part of the Space Environments Complex at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Feature | NASA-published figure or description |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 100 ft (30.5 m) |
| Height | 122 ft (37.2 m) |
| Internal volume | 22,653 m³ (about 800,000 ft³) |
| Loading doors | 50 × 50 ft (15.24 × 15.24 m) |
| Vacuum capability | Below 4 × 10−6 Torr in under eight hours |
| Primary role | Large-scale space-environment simulation |
| Operations began | 1969 |
The chamber is used for spacecraft and hardware testing, including rocket-fairing separation, Mars lander systems, solar arrays, solar sails and International Space Station radiator deployments. NASA provides current information through its Space Environments Complex overview, facility page and Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility reference.
Recommended Free Tools
Are they perfectly simultaneous?
“Essentially together” is the scientifically safer description. A tiny difference could result from unsynchronized release, unequal starting heights, residual gas, rotation, contact with the release mechanism, camera frame rate or perspective. The video demonstrates equal gravitational acceleration at ordinary viewing resolution; it is not a precision timing experiment.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Is this Galileo’s experiment?
The demonstration presents the falling-body principle associated with Galileo, but it is not a verified recreation of a documented drop from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The popular tower story is not securely established in the simple eyewitness form often repeated. What is firmly established is the physical result: when air resistance is negligible, objects of different masses fall with the same acceleration in the same gravitational field.
How the result compares with the Moon
Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott’s hammer-and-feather drop produced the same basic result on the Moon, whose atmosphere is too thin to create meaningful drag. The two demonstrations are separate: NASA’s chamber provides Earth’s gravity with air removed, while the Moon provides a naturally airless environment with weaker lunar gravity. Objects therefore fall together in both cases, but more slowly on the Moon.
Could you reproduce it safely?
- Use a transparent vacuum tube or classroom vacuum apparatus specifically rated for demonstration use.
- Release objects from the same height without giving either one an extra push.
- Keep the test small and use equipment with a known pressure rating.
Do not put ordinary jars, bottles or un rated glass containers under vacuum: implosion can be dangerous. Never attempt to evacuate a room or construct a large improvised chamber. A normal household drop will not reproduce the effect reliably because air drag remains significant.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What the demonstration does—and does not—prove
- It demonstrates that negligible air resistance lets a feather and bowling ball share the same gravitational acceleration near Earth.
- It does not show that air has no effect in daily life; air drag is exactly why the feather normally lags.
- It is consistent with the equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass, but it is not a precision test of every aspect of Einstein’s general relativity.
- The chamber is not a perfect vacuum, and “world’s biggest” should be understood as NASA’s category-specific space-simulation claim.
NASA’s historical and technical facility material includes the Space Power Facility description and a NASA Technical Reports Server specification.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
