Which object is accelerating downward at the slowest rate? a bird's feather falling from a tree branch to the ground a rock dropped from the roof of a tall building a baseball just after it is struck for a home run a model rocket falling to the ground after it has reached its maximum height

Question

Which object is accelerating downward at the slowest rate?  	 	a bird's feather falling from a tree branch to the ground 	a rock dropped from the roof of a tall building 	a baseball just after it is struck for a home run 	a model rocket falling to the ground after it has reached its maximum height

anonymous · Answer

This is either a trick question or you're supposed to consider air resistance.

If air resistance is negligible, then all the objects will accelerate at the same rate. This rate is known as 'g', roughly 9.8 m/s^2.

If air resistance is NOT negligible, then all the objects will accelerate at some rate that becomes progressively less than 'g' until the acceleration is 0. This would be the terminal velocity and the object would continue to fall at this speed for the duration of the fall. Air resistance would be a function of the object, as surface area would increase the drag force experienced.