Here's why:
* Gravity is the driving force: The acceleration due to gravity is constant near the Earth's surface, approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that every object, regardless of its mass or how it's set in motion, experiences the same acceleration downwards due to gravity.
* Initial velocity doesn't affect acceleration: While the initial velocity of an object (whether it's dropped or thrown) will affect its speed and trajectory, it doesn't change the rate at which gravity pulls it down.
Example:
* A dropped ball starts with zero initial velocity.
* A thrown ball has an initial velocity.
Both balls will experience the same acceleration due to gravity, even though their initial speeds are different.
Important Note: This assumes we are ignoring air resistance. In reality, air resistance can affect the acceleration of objects, especially for lighter objects or objects with larger surface areas. However, for a basic understanding of gravity's effect, we can assume the acceleration is constant.
