Objects fall at different rates due to:
a
mass
b
weight
c
air resistance
d
inertia
The correct answer is (c) air resistance. Objects fall at different rates due to the resistance provided by the surrounding air. The amount of air resistance depends on the shape, size, and speed of the falling object. This is why a feather falls slower than a stone of the same size, shape, and mass, because air resistance has a greater effect on lighter objects.
Objects fall at different rates due to two main factors: mass and air resistance.
a. Mass: Mass is the amount of matter an object contains. In general, objects with greater mass will fall faster than objects with smaller mass when subjected to the same gravitational force. This is because more massive objects have greater gravitational pull, which accelerates them faster.
b. Air Resistance: Air resistance is the force that opposes the motion of objects as they move through the air. This force depends on the shape, size, and speed of the object. Objects with larger surface areas or less aerodynamic shapes experience greater air resistance, which slows down their fall. On the other hand, objects with smaller surface areas or more streamlined shapes experience less air resistance and fall faster.
It's important to note that weight, which is the force with which gravity pulls an object downward, is often confused with mass but does not affect the rate at which objects fall. Weight is directly proportional to mass (weight = mass x gravitational acceleration), so although heavier objects have greater weight, it does not impact their rate of falling in the absence of air resistance.
Inertia (d) refers to an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion. While it plays a role in how objects react to forces, it is not directly related to the rate at which objects fall.