Final answer:
Air resistance can cause objects to fall at different rates by opposing their motion through air. This opposition leads to a measured acceleration due to gravity ('g') that is less than the actual value, as lighter objects, in particular, fall slower due to higher air resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Air resistance affects the measurement of the acceleration due to gravity, often symbolized as 'g'. In real-world scenarios, air resistance can cause objects to fall at different rates, contrary to the ideally constant acceleration in a vacuum, which is independent of their mass. Since air resistance opposes the motion of an object through the air, it acts to decrease the acceleration of falling objects.
Experiments to determine 'g' often assume a state of free-fall, where air resistance is negligible. However, in the real world, lighter objects may experience significant air resistance, causing them to fall slower than expected. This results in a measured value of 'g' that is less than the actual value because air resistance reduces the acceleration of these objects.
For instance, a tennis ball falling will experience more air resistance compared to a denser object like a baseball, causing it to reach the ground later when dropped from the same height. Therefore, when measuring 'g', it is important to consider the effects of air resistance, especially when dealing with objects of varying densities and surface areas.