Here's why:
* Free fall means the only force acting on the object is gravity.
* Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity.
Therefore, the magnitude of the force is calculated using:
Force (weight) = mass (m) x acceleration due to gravity (g)
Where:
* m is the mass of the object (in kilograms)
* g is the acceleration due to gravity near Earth's surface, approximately 9.8 m/s²
Example:
If an object has a mass of 10 kg, its weight (force of gravity) would be:
Force = 10 kg x 9.8 m/s² = 98 Newtons (N)
