Question

a textbook is dropped from the second story stairs and free falls to the ground. what changes, if any, would be observed of the velocity and the acceleration of the textbook as it falls? pick two answers.
tap to select or deselect answers.
the velocity ...
increases
decreases
remains constant
the acceleration ...
increases
decreases
remains constant

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Velocity in Free Fall

In free fall (neglecting air resistance), an object accelerates due to gravity. The velocity of a freely falling object (like the dropped textbook) increases over time because the acceleration due to gravity (\(g \approx 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\)) acts downward, causing the velocity to gain magnitude in the downward direction. So for the velocity question, the correct choice is "increases".

Step2: Analyze Acceleration in Free Fall

The acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface is approximately constant (about \(9.8\,\text{m/s}^2\)) for objects in free fall (when air resistance is negligible, as is often assumed in basic physics problems). So the acceleration of the textbook remains constant (equal to \(g\)) as it falls. Thus, for the acceleration question, the correct choice is "remains constant".

Answer:

For the velocity: increases
For the acceleration: remains constant