Does a heavy object exert more downward force then a light object?
Yes – the heavy object exerts more *total* downward force BUT – Gravity does not exert its force on the object as a whole, it exerts its force on each individual sub-atomic particle that makes up the object, simultaneously. (Gravity interacts with the inertial mass of each sub-atomic particles.) If gravity interacts at the proton-neutron level they will all accelerate at the same rate since they have nearly the same mass and are held tightly together by the strong force. Although the electrons have much less mass they are under the influence of the heavier protons within the atom. However, if gravity interacts at the ‘first generation’ quark level they will all have exactly the same “mass-energy” and therefore all accelerate at exactly the same rate of acceleration. It does not make any difference whether the object has millions of these particles or zillions particles, gravity exerts its force equally on each individual particle. That is why a person in free fall (with no atmosphere)
