Understanding the Concepts
* Gravity: Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards each other. On Earth, this means objects fall towards the ground.
* Acceleration Due to Gravity (g): The acceleration experienced by an object due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface. This means that every second, the object's downward velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second.
* Newton's Second Law of Motion: This law states that the force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).
Steps to Solve
1. Identify the known values:
* Mass (m) = 1 kg
* Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s²
2. Apply Newton's Second Law:
* Force (F) = mass (m) * acceleration (g)
3. Substitute the values:
* F = 1 kg * 9.8 m/s²
4. Calculate the force:
* F = 9.8 Newtons (N)
Therefore, the force on a 1-kg ball falling freely due to the pull of gravity is approximately 9.8 Newtons.
Important Note: This calculation assumes the ball is falling in a vacuum, where air resistance is negligible. In reality, air resistance would oppose the ball's motion, making the actual force slightly less.
