* Gravity: The Earth exerts a constant force of gravity on all objects near its surface. This force pulls objects downwards.
* Acceleration: This force of gravity causes an object to accelerate. Acceleration means that the object's speed increases over time.
* Constant Acceleration: In a vacuum (where air resistance is negligible), the acceleration due to gravity is a constant value of approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the object's speed increases by 9.8 meters per second for every second it falls.
Important Notes:
* Air Resistance: In reality, air resistance will oppose the motion of a falling object. As the object falls faster, air resistance increases until it eventually balances the force of gravity. At this point, the object reaches its terminal velocity, where it falls at a constant speed.
* Initial Velocity: The speed of an object in free fall depends on its initial velocity. If the object is dropped from rest, its initial velocity is zero. If it's thrown downwards, it will have a higher initial velocity and will fall faster.
Let me know if you'd like to explore the effects of air resistance or initial velocity in more detail!
