Question
A student is asked to describe the path of a paper airplane that is thrown in the classroom. Which statement best describes the path of the paper airplane? The paper airplane will move in a straight line, according to Newton's first law of motion. The paper airplane will drop straight to the ground once its inertia gives in to the force of gravity. The paper airplane will create a curved path toward the floor as it is pulled toward Earth's center. The paper airplane will orbit around the desk because it is the object with the largest mass in the rc
Answer
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Louie
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The paper airplane will create a curved path toward the floor as it is pulled toward Earth's center.
Explanation
When considering the path of a paper airplane, we must take into account the forces acting upon it. Newton's first law of motion states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. While this suggests that the paper airplane could move in a straight line, we must remember that it is subject to gravity and air resistance. The airplane will not drop straight to the ground immediately because it has forward velocity and lift generated by its wings. Orbiting around a desk is not feasible because the paper airplane does not have the velocity to enter into orbit, and a desk does not have the gravitational pull necessary to cause an orbit. The most accurate description of the paper airplane's path is that it will create a curved path toward the floor. This is due to the combination of its forward motion and the downward pull of gravity, resulting in a parabolic trajectory.