Analyzing Gravitational Data Quick Check

Question

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Question
Two objects fall from an apartment window sill at the same time. Object 1 lands on the sidewalk in 3.6 seconds. Object 2 lands on the sidewalk in 3.3 seconds. What can be concluded about the objects?(1 point)
Responses

Object 2 weighs less than Object 1.
Object 2 weighs less than Object 1.

Object 1 has more surface area than Object 2.
Object 1 has more surface area than Object 2.

Object 1 has less surface area than Object 2.
Object 1 has less surface area than Object 2.

Object 2 has more mass than Object 1.

Answer 1

Based on the information provided, the response regarding the weights, surface areas, and masses of the objects cannot be definitively concluded from the time it takes for them to fall alone.

In free fall (in the absence of air resistance), all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass or surface area. However, the time difference in landing might suggest that Object 1 experienced greater air resistance than Object 2, possibly due to having a larger surface area or a different shape, which may have affected its descent.

Given the options, none of them are certain conclusions based solely on the fall times provided. However, if you had to choose the most plausible conclusion in the context of air resistance being a factor, you might lean towards:

Object 1 has more surface area than Object 2.

This is a speculative conclusion and not definitive without further information about the shapes and sizes of the objects.