Question

3 which of the following will happen first to an egg that is dropped off of the empire state building? a drag will increase b the egg will appear to hover c gravity and drag will fall into balance d the net force will be zero

Explanation:

• Option A: When an object (like the egg) starts falling, its velocity increases. Drag force ($F_d \propto v^2$ for air drag) depends on velocity, so as velocity increases from 0, drag starts to increase.
• Option B: An egg in free fall (with air resistance) will not hover; it accelerates initially, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: Gravity and drag balance (terminal velocity) happens when drag equals gravity, which is after drag has increased and velocity has stabilized. This is not the first event.
• Option D: Net force is zero only when gravity and drag balance (terminal velocity), which is not initial. Initially, net force is $F_{net}=mg - F_d$ (with $F_d$ small), so net force is not zero first.

So the first event is drag increasing as the egg accelerates.

Answer:

A. Drag will increase