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A package of supplies is dropped from a plane, and one second later a second package is dropped. Neglecting air resistance, the distance between the falling packages will____

a. decrease
b. increase
c. depend on the speed of the plane
d. depend on their weight
e. be constant

User Jagershark
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Final answer:

The distance between two packages dropped from a plane one after the other will increase over time due to gravity, as the first package has a one-second head start and will be continuously further ahead.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distance between the falling packages will increase. When the first package is dropped, it begins accelerating downwards due to gravity. By the time the second package is released one second later, the first package has already picked up speed because it has been falling for that additional second. As both packages are falling freely under the influence of gravity and without air resistance, the second package will always be behind in terms of distance fallen. Thus, each subsequent second sees the first package getting further ahead, making the distance between the two packages increase continuously as long as they fall.

User Dave Transom
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