* Gravity: Every object with mass exerts a gravitational pull on every other object. The Earth has a large mass, so it exerts a strong gravitational force on objects near it.
* Force and Acceleration: Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that a larger force will cause a larger acceleration.
* Falling Object: When an object is released from rest, the only force acting on it is gravity. This gravitational force causes the object to accelerate downwards.
* Constant Acceleration: The acceleration due to gravity is constant near the Earth's surface, approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²). This means that the object's velocity increases by 9.8 m/s every second it falls.
In summary:
1. Gravity pulls the object downwards.
2. This gravitational force causes an acceleration.
3. The acceleration due to gravity is constant, causing the object's velocity to increase steadily.
Important Note: Air resistance can affect the acceleration of falling objects. However, in the early stages of the fall, the object's velocity is relatively low, and air resistance is minimal. As the object falls faster, air resistance increases, eventually reaching a point where it balances the force of gravity. At this point, the object reaches its terminal velocity and falls at a constant speed.
