Measure the mass of the Aluminum "unknown" using the torque apparatus, and the volume using the vernier caliper. Then determine its density and quantitatively compare that density to the Aluminum density value listed in Appendix II of the lab manual (show all work). Your result should be a little bit high; what would be the primary cause of such an error? Explain

air exerts forces on falling objects near earth’s surface.

explanation:

the term 'free falls' refer to object that are falling towards the earth, in a situation in which gravity is the only force acting on the object.

for an object in free fall, the acceleration is constant (g, the gravitational acceleration), and so the velocity of the object constantly increases.

for objects near earth's surface, there is always another force acting on the object: the resistance due to the air. this force is opposed to the direction of fall of the object, and it is proportional to the velocity of the object, so as the object falls down, this force increases up to a point when it balances the force of gravity, and the object continues its motion at constant velocity (called terminal velocity). since in this case gravity is not the only force acting on the object, we are not in a situation of free fall.

conservation of mass

mass before something happens = mass afterwards