* Gravity's Constant Pull: Near the Earth's surface, gravity exerts a constant force on objects, pulling them towards the center of the Earth. This force causes a constant acceleration, which we call the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²).
* Neglecting Air Resistance: For this constant acceleration to hold true, we must ignore air resistance. Air resistance is a force that opposes the motion of objects through the air. It increases with the object's speed and can significantly affect its acceleration.
In summary:
An object falls at a constant rate of acceleration when:
1. Gravity is the only force acting on it.
2. Air resistance is negligible.
Example: A feather and a bowling ball dropped in a vacuum chamber will fall at the same rate of acceleration because air resistance is absent.
