Final answer:
The massive and less massive objects free-fall at the same rate because the ratio of the net force to mass is the same for each.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is A: the ratio of the net force to mass is the same for each.
In a vacuum, where air resistance is negligible, all objects, regardless of their mass, experience the same acceleration due to gravity. This is because when considering the force of gravity, we use the equation F = mg, where F is the force of gravity, m is the mass of the object, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Since the mass appears on both sides of the equation, it cancels out, and we are left with the ratio of the force to the mass being the same for all objects. Therefore, both massive and less massive objects free-fall at the same rate.