Which statement best explains why a paper airplane eventually falls to the ground?(1 point)
The force from throwing the airplane loses strength as the airplane moves.
The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.
Inertia acts as a balanced force that slows the airplane and pulls it down.
Inertia creates the new forces acting on the airplane to keep it up.
The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.
The correct answer is:
The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.
The correct 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."
To understand why this is the correct explanation, let's break it down:
When a paper airplane is thrown, it moves forward due to the force applied during the throw. However, as it moves through the air, it encounters a force called air resistance, which opposes its forward motion. This force acts in the opposite direction of the airplane's velocity, and its strength depends on factors such as the shape and size of the airplane.
At the same time, the force of gravity is always acting on the paper airplane, pulling it downwards towards the Earth. Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. This force remains constant regardless of the airplane's motion. It is important to note that gravity always pulls objects downward, perpendicular to the Earth's surface.
In the case of a paper airplane, the unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity come into play. The force of air resistance acts against the forward motion of the airplane, slowing it down. As the airplane slows down, the force of gravity becomes stronger relative to the air resistance force. Eventually, the force of gravity overcomes the weakened air resistance force, causing the paper airplane to descend towards the ground.
Therefore, the correct explanation is that the unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.