- #1
Bailey
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Assuming air resistance, when a tennis ball and a feather are dropped from the same height? Which statement is true:
A: Tennis ball has more mass so it will fall faster.
B: Tennis ball has less surface area so it will fall faster
I think the answer should be A, but the textbook say B is true base on the reasoning that surface area is proportional to air resistance. My arguments are as follows:
1. The question does not suggest a feather have a greater surface area than a tennis ball. I can picture the size of a tennis ball, but size and shape of feather varies depending on the source.
2. Assuming if they explicitly state that cross-sectional surface area is greater for the feather, wouldn't the mass still play a greater effect due to the greater difference in mass between the objects vs. the difference in cross-sectional areas.
Thank you.
A: Tennis ball has more mass so it will fall faster.
B: Tennis ball has less surface area so it will fall faster
I think the answer should be A, but the textbook say B is true base on the reasoning that surface area is proportional to air resistance. My arguments are as follows:
1. The question does not suggest a feather have a greater surface area than a tennis ball. I can picture the size of a tennis ball, but size and shape of feather varies depending on the source.
2. Assuming if they explicitly state that cross-sectional surface area is greater for the feather, wouldn't the mass still play a greater effect due to the greater difference in mass between the objects vs. the difference in cross-sectional areas.
Thank you.