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?
1. The paper airplane will move in a straight line, according to Newton’s first law of motion.
2. The paper airplane will drop straight to the ground once its inertia gives in to the force of gravity.
3. The paper airplane will create a curved path toward the floor as it is pulled toward Earth’s center.
4. The paper airplane will orbit around the desk because it is the object with the largest mass in the room.

Answer 1

Answer: The paper airplane will create a curved path towards the floor as it is pulled toward Earth's center.

Explanation: The paper airplane will be pulled to the center because Earth has a much greater mass than objects on its surface. And it will curve because of the amount of force you are putting onto the plane.

Answer 2

Answer: The paper airplane will create a curved path toward the floor as it is pulled toward the Earth’s center.