How does a falling object’s surface area affect calculations of terminal velocity?

Question

Responses

The greater the object’s surface area, the greater its terminal velocity.

The greater the object’s surface area, the more air resistance it encounters.

The greater the object’s surface area, the greater the air density.

Surface area does not affect an object’s terminal velocity.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The greater the object’s surface area, the more air resistance it encounters.

This is because terminal velocity occurs when the force of gravity acting on an object is balanced by the drag force (air resistance) acting against it. A larger surface area increases the drag force, which can lead to a lower terminal velocity for an object as it falls through a fluid (like air).