Chapter 2, Problem 13Q

As a freely falling object speeds up, what is happening to its acceleration-does it increase, decrease, or stay the same? (a) Ignore air resistance, (b) Consider air resistance.

To determine

What happens to acceleration in presence and absence of air pressure?

Answer to Problem 13Q

Solution:

The acceleration does not change in absence of air pressure but it changes in presence of air pressure

Explanation of Solution

The object will fall with different acceleration in vacuum and in presence of air that is because in vacuum or no air there is no molecules to oppose the motion of the falling objects while in presence of air the air molecules will cause friction that will reduce decrease the acceleration.

    a)  air resistance is zero, the acceleration remains same.

    b)  Air resistance exists, it will increase as the speed increases, this will decrease the overall acceleration of the falling object.