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Q. Consider the following statements regarding the motion of an elephant and a feather when dropped from the same height:
  1. The elephant encounters a smaller force of air resistance than the feather and therefore falls faster.
  2. The elephant has a greater acceleration due to gravity than the feather and therefore falls faster.
  3. Both elephant and feather have the same force of gravity, yet the acceleration due to gravity is greatest for the elephant.
  4. Both elephant and feather have the same force of gravity, yet the feather experiences greater air resistance.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: Only 1 statement is correct
Notes: Of the given statements, only statement 4 is correct: Both elephant and feather experience the same gravitational acceleration, but because of its relatively larger surface area for its mass, the feather experiences greater air resistance. The force of gravity is greater for the elephant (due to higher mass), and acceleration due to gravity remains constant for both objects irrespective of mass.
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