Understanding the Physics
* Acceleration due to gravity (g): On Earth, 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.
* Initial velocity (v₀): Since the object starts from rest, its initial velocity is 0 m/s.
The Equation
We can use the following equation to find the final velocity (v) of an object undergoing constant acceleration:
v = v₀ + at
Where:
* v = final velocity
* v₀ = initial velocity
* a = acceleration (in this case, acceleration due to gravity, g)
* t = time
Calculation
1. Plug in the values:
v = 0 + (9.8 m/s²) * (10 s)
2. Calculate:
v = 98 m/s
Answer:
The speed of a freely falling object ten seconds after starting from rest is approximately 98 meters per second.
