1. Gravity: This is the force that pulls the object downwards towards the center of the Earth. It is a constant force that acts on all objects with mass.
2. Air Resistance (Drag): This is the force that opposes the motion of the object through the air. It is a friction force that increases with the speed of the object and the size and shape of its surface.
Here's how they work together:
* At the start: When an object begins to fall, gravity is the dominant force. This causes the object to accelerate downwards.
* As the object falls: As the object gains speed, air resistance also increases. This force acts in the opposite direction to gravity, slowing down the object's acceleration.
* Terminal velocity: Eventually, the force of air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity. At this point, the object stops accelerating and falls at a constant speed called terminal velocity.
It's important to remember that air resistance plays a significant role in determining how an object falls. A small, dense object like a rock will experience less air resistance than a large, lightweight object like a feather. This is why a feather falls much slower than a rock.