If you drop a rock and a bowling ball off a cliff, which one will hit the ground first if air resistance IS PRESENT?
a
Neither will ever reach the ground
b
The rock, because it's lighter in mass
c
The bowling ball because it's heavier in mass
d
They will hit the ground at the same time
d - They will hit the ground at the same time.
If air resistance is present, the rock and the bowling ball will experience a force that opposes their motion, causing them to fall more slowly than they would in the absence of air resistance. However, the effect of air resistance depends on the shape and surface area of the objects.
In this case, the bowling ball has a larger surface area compared to the rock, which means it will experience more air resistance. Therefore, the bowling ball will fall slower than the rock.
However, it's important to note that even with air resistance, the difference in speed between the rock and the bowling ball may not be significant enough to determine which one hits the ground first. In most cases, the difference in their falling speeds will be negligible, and they will hit the ground at approximately the same time.
So, the correct answer is:
d) They will hit the ground at the same time.