What happens to an object as it absorbs radiant energy? a its temperature increases. b its temperature decreases. c its thermal energy decreases. d its potential energy increases.

A Its temperature increases.

Explanation:

When an objects absorbs radiant energy obviously its temperature would shoot up. It will increase up to the temperature of the incident radiation and after both that have achieved the same temperature that both are in thermal equilibrium then its temperature won't increase any further.  Now it won't absorb any further energy from the radiant energy. All other option are irrelevant in the context of this question.  

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.