The rate of acceleration caused by gravity near the Earth's surface is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (m/s²). This is often rounded to 9.8 m/s² or even 10 m/s² for simpler calculations.

Here's what that means:

* Acceleration: This means the speed of a falling object increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.

* Gravity: The force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth.

Important Notes:

* The actual acceleration due to gravity varies slightly depending on your location on Earth (altitude, latitude, etc.).

* This value only applies near the Earth's surface. The further away you get, the weaker gravity becomes and the acceleration decreases.