Question

Why do raindrops fall with constant speed during the later stages of their descent?

a.The gravitational force is the same for all drops
b.Gravity cannot increase the speed of a falling object to more than 9.8 m/s
c.Air resistance just balances the force of gravity.
d.The drops all fall from the same height
e.The force of gravity is negligible for objects as small as raindrops

Answer 1

Raindrops fall with constant speed during the later stages of their descent due to the balance between the force of gravity and air resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the later stages of their descent, raindrops fall with constant speed due to the balance between the force of gravity and air resistance. When raindrops start falling, they accelerate due to the force of gravity. However, as they gain speed, air resistance increases and eventually becomes equal to the force of gravity, causing the raindrops to reach a constant speed.

The force of gravity is the same for all drops but air resistance varies depending on the size and shape of the raindrop. For smaller raindrops, air resistance is more significant compared to their weight, causing them to fall with lower speeds. On the other hand, larger raindrops experience less air resistance and fall with higher speeds.

To summarize, raindrops fall with constant speed during the later stages of their descent because the force of gravity is balanced by the force of air resistance.