Question
If a crumpled piece of notebook paper and a flat sheet of notebook paper are released simultaneously from the same height, what explains why the crumpled paper lands first?
A. The crumpled paper experiences a greater gravitational force acting upon it.
B. The flat paper possesses a greater mass.
C. The crumpled paper has a lower mass.
D. The flat paper encounters greater air resistance.
A. The crumpled paper experiences a greater gravitational force acting upon it.
B. The flat paper possesses a greater mass.
C. The crumpled paper has a lower mass.
D. The flat paper encounters greater air resistance.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
D. The flat paper encounters greater air resistance.
When both the crumpled piece of notebook paper and the flat sheet are released, the crumpled paper is more compact, which reduces its surface area relative to its weight. This results in less air resistance acting on it compared to the flat paper. The flat paper, having a larger surface area, encounters more air resistance as it falls, which slows it down. Therefore, the crumpled paper lands first primarily due to the differences in air resistance they experience.
When both the crumpled piece of notebook paper and the flat sheet are released, the crumpled paper is more compact, which reduces its surface area relative to its weight. This results in less air resistance acting on it compared to the flat paper. The flat paper, having a larger surface area, encounters more air resistance as it falls, which slows it down. Therefore, the crumpled paper lands first primarily due to the differences in air resistance they experience.