Final answer:
Aristotle believed objects fall toward Earth due to an inherent desire, while smoke rises because of an affinity for the sky, which matches option b). Modern physics, however, explains that air resistance affects the rate at which objects fall, with more surface area experiencing greater resistance. This is detailed in option d).
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Aristotle's explanation, objects fall towards the ground because of an inherent desire to reach Earth, and smoke rises due to its affinity for the sky. This answer corresponds to option b) Objects fall because of an inherent desire to reach the Earth, and smoke rises due to its affinity for the sky. However, our modern understanding of physics provides a different explanation. In the real world, air resistance can cause a lighter object to fall slower than a heavier object of the same size, acting in the direction opposite the motion of the object, with greater resistance exerted on objects with more surface area. This is reflected in option d) Some objects fall faster because of air resistance, which acts in the direction opposite the motion of the object and exerts more force on objects with more surface area. Furthermore, we now understand that in the absence of air resistance and friction, known as free-fall, all objects fall toward the center of Earth with the same constant acceleration, independent of their mass—a key concept proven by Galileo and clarified by Newton's law of universal gravitation.