Understanding the Physics
* Acceleration due to gravity (g): Near the Earth's surface, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that for every second an object falls, its speed increases by 9.8 meters per second.
* Free Fall: We're assuming the object is in free fall, meaning the only force acting on it is gravity.
The Formula
We can use the following formula to calculate the distance (d) an object falls in a given time (t):
d = (1/2) * g * t²
Calculation
1. Plug in the values:
* g = 9.8 m/s²
* t = 7 seconds
2. Solve the equation:
d = (1/2) * 9.8 m/s² * (7 s)²
d = 4.9 m/s² * 49 s²
d = 240.1 meters
Answer: An object near the surface of the Earth will fall approximately 240.1 meters in 7 seconds.
