If a coin is dropped at a relatively low altitude, it's acceleration remains constant. However, if the coin is dropped at a very high altitude, air resistance will have a significant effect. The initial acceleration of the coin will be the greatest. As it falls down, air resistance will counteract the weight of the coin. So, the acceleration will decrease. Although the acceleration decreases, the coin still accelerates, that is why it falls faster. When the air resistance fully counters the weight of the coin, the acceleration will become zero and the coin will fall at a constant speed (terminal velocity). So, the answer should be, The acceleration decreases until it reaches 0. The closest answer is.
a. The acceleration decreases.
Answer: 56.72 ft/s
Explanation:
Ok, initially we only have potential energy, that is equal to:
U =m*g*h
where g is the gravitational acceleration, m the mass and h the height.
h = 50ft and g = 32.17 ft/s^2
when the watermelon is near the ground, all the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy, and the kinetic energy can be written as:
K = (1/2)*m*v^2
where v is the velocity.
Then we have:
K = U
m*g*h = (m/2)*v^2
we solve it for v.
v = √(2g*h) = √(2*32.17*50) ft/s = 56.72 ft/s
Speed= distance/time
Speed= 150000m/7200s=20.83m/s(cor.to.2d.p.)
