A feather and a hammer are in free fall when...
a
air resistance is the only force acting on them.
b
weight is the only force acting on them.
c
gravity and air resistance act on them.
d
gravity is the only force acting on them.
d) gravity is the only force acting on them.
To determine which option is correct, we need to understand the forces acting on the feather and the hammer during free fall.
a) If air resistance is the only force acting on them: This is unlikely because both the feather and the hammer have different shapes and sizes, which would result in different levels of air resistance. Therefore, their falls would not be identical.
b) If weight is the only force acting on them: Weight is the gravitational pull on an object and is given by the equation W = mg, where m represents the mass of the object and g represents the acceleration due to gravity. Although weight is indeed a force acting on the feather and the hammer, it is not the only force.
c) If gravity and air resistance act on them: This option is plausible. Both gravity and air resistance play a role in the motion of objects during free fall. Gravity pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, while air resistance opposes the motion and depends on the object's shape and surface area.
d) If gravity is the only force acting on them: Gravity is always acting on objects, regardless of whether they are in free fall or not. However, in free fall, there is typically another force acting on the objects, such as air resistance.
Considering the options, the most accurate answer is C: gravity and air resistance act on them. This option takes into account the combined effect of gravity pulling the feather and the hammer downwards, as well as air resistance opposing their motion.
d
gravity is the only force acting on them.