* Air Resistance: Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of objects through the air. The amount of air resistance an object experiences depends on its shape, size, and speed.
* Flat Sheet: A flat sheet of paper has a large surface area exposed to the air. This creates a lot of air resistance, slowing its descent and reducing its acceleration.
* Crumpled Ball: A crumpled ball of paper has a much smaller surface area exposed to the air. This reduces the air resistance it experiences, allowing it to accelerate faster.
In Summary: The flat sheet of paper will experience more air resistance, causing it to accelerate at a slower rate than the crumpled ball.
Important Note: In a vacuum (where there is no air), both the flat sheet and the crumpled ball would accelerate at the same rate due to gravity.