Which statement best explains why a paper airplane eventually falls to the ground?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Inertia slows the airplane and pulls it down.
Inertia slows the airplane and pulls it down.

The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.
The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.

The force from throwing the airplane loses strength as the airplane moves.
The force from throwing the airplane loses strength as the airplane moves.

Inertia prevents new forces from acting on the airplane to keep it up.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains why a paper airplane eventually falls to the ground is:

The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.

This explanation captures the role of both gravity, which pulls the airplane down, and air resistance, which opposes its motion, leading to a decrease in speed until it can no longer stay aloft.