Here's why:
* Acceleration due to gravity: The Earth's gravity pulls objects towards its center with an acceleration of approximately 9.8 m/s². This means an object's downward velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second every second.
* Distance formula: The distance an object falls is calculated using the formula: distance = (1/2) * acceleration * time²
* Applying the formula: In this case, the time is 1 second. So, distance = (1/2) * 9.8 m/s² * (1 s)² = 4.9 meters.
Important Note: This is a simplified calculation. In reality, air resistance will affect the object's fall, causing it to fall slightly slower than 4.9 meters in the first second.
