A scientific drone hovering above the surface of Mars releases an atmospheric sounding probe from rest. The probe falls vertically to the Martian surface.
The velocity-time graph below shows how the vertical velocity of the probe changes from the instant it is released until it impacts the surface.
Use the graph to calculate the acceleration due to gravity on Mars. State the unit of your answer.
Use the graph to determine the height above the Martian surface from which the probe was released.
The gravitational acceleration on Mars is significantly lower than the gravitational acceleration on Earth. State why the gravitational strength at the surface of Mars is smaller.
A similar experiment is carried out on Earth in a region of the atmosphere where air resistance is significant. A crumpled sheet of paper and a solid lead sphere of the same size and shape are dropped simultaneously from the same height. The crumpled paper takes longer to reach the ground than the lead sphere, even though the maximum air resistance force acting on the paper is much smaller than that acting on the lead sphere. Explain why the paper takes longer to reach the ground.
