Question

How does a falling object’s surface area affect calculations of terminal velocity?(1 point)
Responses

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

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

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

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

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:

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

This increased air resistance affects the terminal velocity, as it opposes the force of gravity acting on the object. As a result, a larger surface area typically leads to a lower terminal velocity because it requires a greater force to balance the increased drag from the air.