Every autumn, apples that were previously hanging from the tree’s branches fall to the ground. While this phenomenon may seem like a natural occurrence, the explanation behind why apples fall off trees is somewhat technical. Firstly, it is important to understand that there is a point known as the shedding point, which is the minimum necessary weight that can cause an apple fruit to break off the twig. When the shedding point is reached or exceeded, the apple will detach from the tree.
The shedding point of an apple tree is determined by the balance between the gravitational force pulling it towards the ground and the adhesion force competing against it. The gravitational force works against the apple, pulling it downwards and increasing the downward displacement of the fruit due to its mass. On the other hand, the adhesion force is caused by the strength of the twig gripping the fruit. This force works in the opposite direction, attempting to keep the apple connected to the branch. Once the shed point is reached, the two forces become equal, and the fruit detaches from the branch.
Depending on a variety of environmental factors, the shedding point of an apple tree can vary significantly. In particular, factors such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed can all contribute to changing the balance between the gravitational and adhesion forces, potentially tipping them in the favor of either of them. Therefore, when the gravitational force is strong enough, and the adhesion force is weakened enough, the shedding point will be reached and the apples will begin to fall. Another factor that can influence the shedding point of apples is the development of the apple itself.
As the apple grows and matures, it increases in size and mass, resulting in a stronger downward displacement force due to its increased weight. As the apple gets closer and closer to reaching its harvestable ripeness, its gravitational force becomes too high for the twig to keep it attached, and the fruit is released. The shedding point is also important for the propagation of the apples, as it is what causes the apple fruits to separate from the tree and fall onto the ground, allowing for new apple trees to sprout from the dormant apple seeds near the base of the tree.
In conclusion, when apples detach from the tree and fall to the ground, it is due to a phenomenon known as the shedding point, a balance between the gravitational and adhesion forces that dictate when the fruit detaches from the branch. This point is an important factor, as it allows for the propagation of new apple trees and allows us to collect apples for consumption.
Environmental Factors
The shedding point of an apple tree is heavily influenced by the environmental factors present at any given time. Temperature, humidity, and rain can all affect the balance between the gravitation force and the adhesion force, making the adhesive force weaker and allowing the gravitational force to take over and cause the apple to detach. Rain, in particular, can have a significant impact on the shedding point as the additional liquid weight on the apple’s surface causes it to become heavier fast, whereas precipitation can also weaken the twig’s adhesion force, speeding up the arrival of the shedding point.
Dew, frost, and mist can also be influential in the arrival of the shedding point, as the additional liquid weight of the water droplets falling onto the apples can cause them to drop from the branch more quickly. Additionally, high wind speeds can also cause the apple to fall from the tree, as the movements of the trees due to the wind can cause the apples to shake vigorously and eventually detach from the branch.
As the months mature into autumn, the temperature begins to drop and accelerate the maturity process of the apples, causing them to reach the shedding point quickly. While the temperature drop is vital in the process of maturation of the apples and the shedding point, other environmental factors such as wind and rain can cause the apples to detach from the branch at a faster rate, leading to an early arrival of the autumn season.
Mature Apples
As the apples mature and reach their harvestable ripeness, their gravitational force begins to increase, as does their weight. This causes the balance of forces between the gravitational and adhesive forces to become increasingly lower, eventually reaching a point at which the strong pull of gravity overcomes the adhesive force, causing the apple to detach from the branch and ‘fall’ from the tree.
The maturing process is highly important in the process of apple shedding, as it greatly accelerates the arrival of the shedding point by increasing the gravitational force exerted on the apple. As the apple matures, its structure is reinforced and its mass increases, resulting in stronger forces towards the ground, leading to an earlier arrival of the shedding point than in immature apples.
Maturing apples present an additional set of challenges for the twig, as their strong gravitational forces can cause weak twigs to break, thus sending the mature apple fruits to the ground even before the shedding point is reached. This phenomenon is often observed in apple varieties whose grown period is particularly short, resulting in larger, heavier apples that can break their twig’s adhesion before the shedding point is reached.
The quicker release of mature apples from their twigs can ruin the prospect for a good harvest, as the apples either get damaged or rot before they can be collected by the orchardists. To avoid this, apple trees are often pruned and monitored regularly in order to prevent the fruit from maturing too quickly and falling prematurely.
Propagation
The shedding point of an apple tree is also an important factor in the propagation of the apples in nature. The shedding point is responsible for the release of the fruits from their branches, which allows the apple seeds inside them to get scattered on the ground and sprout new apple trees. This process is vital in the propagation of the apples, as it allows us to have a never-ending supply of apple trees and a large collection of apple varieties.
On the other hand, the shedding point is also necessary for the sake of the tree itself. By causing the apples to separate from the tree, the shedding point prevents the tree from becoming too heavy with apples, thus allowing the tree to remain upright and healthy for a longer period of time. This healthy, upright posture of the apple tree is fundamental in its lifespan, as it contributes to the tree remaining healthy and strong more quickly.
In addition to these two basic benefits, the shedding point of apple trees also allows us to have a better control over our orchards. By pruning and monitoring our apples in order to keep them at a safe distance from the shedding point, we can ensure that our apple trees remain healthy and that our apples are harvested at their optimal ripeness. This allows us to maximize the quantity and quality of our harvest, resulting in favorable economic conditions for orchardists.
The shedding point of an apple tree plays a critical role in its life cycle, as it dictates when and how the apple should be harvested. It is also important for the propagation of the apples, as it ensures that new apple trees sprout from the seeds scattered on the ground near the base of the tree. Moreover, it aids in the control of our orchards, allowing for a more successful and efficient harvest for orchardists.
Birds and Insects
Another factor that can contribute to the presence of the shedding point is the action of birds and insects. As animals such as birds, wasps, and ants try to consume the apples, they can cause them to shake and break from the twig, thus accelerating the arrival of the shedding point. Additionally, as the birds try to actively feed on the apples, they can cause the apples to ripen faster, leading to a higher gravitational force and a quicker arrival of the shedding point.
Insects, on the other hand, can cause the apples to become extra heavy due to the presence of honeydew produced by aphids, which can lead to a quicker arrival of the shedding point. Ants can also weaken the twigs of apple trees, thus causing the apples to detach even before they reach the shedding point. For that reason, orchardists often invest in pest control measures in order to minimize the impact of insects on their trees.
Birds can also be responsible for a premature arrival of the shedding point due to the vibrations caused by their presence in the trees. These vibrations can cause the apples to shake at a certain frequency and detach from the tree prematurely, leading to a higher percentage of damaged apples. This phenomenon is observed in many orchards where birds are numerous, and to avoid the damages caused by this, orchardists often invest in deterrents that keep the birds away from the apple trees.
In conclusion, the shedding point of an apple tree is an important factor in its life cycle, aiding both in its propagation and in our orchard maintenance. In addition, various environmental factors and the presence of birds and insect can also influence the shedding point, either by weakening the adhesive force or by increasing the gravitational force, resulting in a faster arrival of the shedding point.
