What effect does air resistance have on a falling object?

What effect does air resistance have on a falling object?

• A. It increases the object's acceleration
• B. It decreases the object's acceleration
• C. It has no effect on the object's motion
• D. It causes the object to rise

Answer: (B)

Air resistance, also known as drag, acts in the opposite direction to the motion of a falling object. When an object falls, the force of gravity pulls it downward, causing it to accelerate towards the ground. However, as the object accelerates, it encounters air resistance, which increases with speed. This resistance acts upward and counteracts the force of gravity. As a result, the overall net force acting on the falling object becomes less than the gravitational force alone. This leads to a decrease in the object's acceleration compared to what it would experience in a vacuum, where there is no air resistance. Eventually, as the object continues to fall, it may reach a steady speed known as terminal velocity, at which point the forces of gravity and air resistance are balanced, and the object no longer accelerates. Thus, air resistance effectively reduces the acceleration of the object as it falls through the atmosphere.

Air resistance, also known as drag, acts in the opposite direction to the motion of a falling object. When an object falls, the force of gravity pulls it downward, causing it to accelerate towards the ground. However, as the object accelerates, it encounters air resistance, which increases with speed. This resistance acts upward and counteracts the force of gravity.

As a result, the overall net force acting on the falling object becomes less than the gravitational force alone. This leads to a decrease in the object's acceleration compared to what it would experience in a vacuum, where there is no air resistance. Eventually, as the object continues to fall, it may reach a steady speed known as terminal velocity, at which point the forces of gravity and air resistance are balanced, and the object no longer accelerates.

Thus, air resistance effectively reduces the acceleration of the object as it falls through the atmosphere.