Physics
Physics
Problem
11. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball?Intuitive explanation
The key is air resistance—how the shape of an object affects the forces acting on it. A flat sheet has a huge surface area relative to its mass, so air pushes back against it with nearly as much force as gravity pulls down. A crumpled ball is compact and dense, so the same air resistance acts on much less mass, making gravity's effect dominate. Shape matters as much as weight when things fall through air.
Intuitive explanation
The key is air resistance—how the shape of an object affects the forces acting on it. A flat sheet has a huge surface area relative to its mass, so air pushes back against it with nearly as much force as gravity pulls down. A crumpled ball is compact and dense, so the same air resistance acts on much less mass, making gravity's effect dominate. Shape matters as much as weight when things fall through air.