Question

A 5.70 kg watermelon is dropped from rest from the roof of a 17.0 m-tall building and feels no appreciable air resistance. What is the acceleration of the watermelon as it falls?

1) 9.8 m/s²
2) 17.0 m/s²
3) 0 m/s²
4) 5.70 m/s²

Answer 1

The watermelon dropped from the building accelerates at 9.8 m/s², the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The acceleration of the watermelon as it falls from the roof of the building is due to the force of gravity. On Earth, when air resistance is negligible, all objects accelerate at the same rate regardless of their mass. This constant acceleration is known as the acceleration due to gravity, which has an approximate value of 9.8 m/s². Therefore, the watermelon will accelerate at 9.8 m/s² as it falls towards the ground.