Question

newtons first law quick check
which statement best explains why a paper airplane eventually falls to the ground? (1 point)
the force from throwing the airplane loses strength as the airplane moves.
inertia prevents new forces from acting on the airplane to keep it up.
the unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.
inertia slows the airplane and pulls it down

Explanation:

• When a paper airplane is in flight, gravity acts downward (pulling it down) and air resistance acts opposite to its direction of motion (slowing it). These are unbalanced forces.
• The force from throwing is an initial force. Once the airplane is in motion, it's the continuous action of gravity and air resistance (unbalanced forces) that cause it to fall, not the initial throwing force losing strength. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. It doesn't "slow" or "pull" the airplane down. And inertia doesn't prevent new forces (like gravity and air resistance) from acting on the airplane.

Answer:

The unbalanced forces of air resistance and gravity slow the airplane and pull it down.