Ask an Explainer
Q:
When you drop a piece of paper in equal weight and height to a ping-pong ball, what forces cause the paper to fall to the ground last?
A:
That would be drag. The paper has a larger surface area than the ping pong ball, meaning it comes into contact with more air which slows its fall. In space or in a vaccum, where there is no air, they would both fall at the same rate.
Posted on September 17, 2013 at 5:10 pm
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