Here's why:
* Gravity: The primary force acting on the stone is gravity. Gravity pulls all objects towards the Earth's center.
* Constant Acceleration: Near the Earth's surface, the acceleration due to gravity is almost constant, regardless of the object's mass. This means the stone's speed will increase by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.
Important Notes:
* Air Resistance: In reality, air resistance will slightly slow the stone down. However, if we ignore air resistance, the acceleration is a constant 9.8 m/s².
* Variations: The value of 9.8 m/s² is an approximation. The actual acceleration due to gravity varies slightly depending on altitude and location on Earth.
Let me know if you'd like to explore more about the concepts of gravity and acceleration!