Melissa is working on the roof of her house. She drops a hammer and a nail. Why do both objects hit the ground at the same time?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Drag causes both objects to fall at the same rate.
Drag causes both objects to fall at the same rate.

Velocity causes both objects to fall at the same rate.
Velocity causes both objects to fall at the same rate.

Air resistance causes both objects to fall at the same rate.
Air resistance causes both objects to fall at the same rate.

Earth’s gravity causes both objects to fall at the same rate.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Earth’s gravity causes both objects to fall at the same rate.

In a vacuum (where there is no air resistance), all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass, because they are both accelerated equally by gravity. In Earth's atmosphere, air resistance does affect the rate of fall, but for small objects like a hammer and a nail, the effect is minimal and both will still hit the ground very close to the same time.