A piece of paper and a coin both having the same mass are dropped from the 10th floor of a building. The piece of paper would take more time to reach the ground because.

The correct answer is Option 2. According to the principles of fluid mechanics, when objects fall through a medium like air, they experience an upward buoyant force and air resistance. While both objects have the same mass (and thus the same gravitational force), the piece of paper has a significantly larger surface area and volume relative to its density compared to the compact metal coin.

• Buoyant Force: This force is proportional to the volume of air displaced. Because the paper is less dense and occupies more space, the upward force acting against gravity is greater, slowing its descent.
• Option 1 is incorrect because the gravitational pull ($mg$) is identical for both since their masses are equal.
• Option 3 is incorrect because buoyant force always acts upward, opposing gravity.
• Option 4 is a secondary effect; the primary physical reason for the delay is the net upward force (buoyancy and drag) acting on the paper's larger surface.