The Figure Shows the Speed as a Function of Time

question 17

Multiple Choice

The figure shows the speed as a function of time for an object in free fall near the surface of the earth. The object was dropped from rest in a long evacuated cylinder.
-If the same object were released in air, the magnitude of its acceleration would begin at the free-fall value, but it would decrease continuously to zero as the object continued to fall. For which one of the choices given does the solid line best represent the speed of the object as a function of time when it is dropped from rest in air? Note: The dashed line shows the free-fall under vacuum graph for comparison.

• A)a
• B)b
• C)c
• D)d