Understanding the Concepts
* Free Fall: An object in free fall experiences only the force of gravity.
* Acceleration due to Gravity (g): On Earth, this is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that for every second an object falls, its velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second.
* Initial Velocity (v₀): We assume the object starts from rest, so its initial velocity is 0 m/s.
The Formula
We can use the following equation to find the final velocity (v) of an object in free fall:
v = v₀ + gt
Where:
* v = final velocity
* v₀ = initial velocity
* g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
* t = time
Calculation
1. Substitute the values:
v = 0 + (9.8 m/s²)(10 s)
2. Calculate:
v = 98 m/s
Answer
The velocity of a free-falling object after 10 seconds, assuming negligible air resistance and an acceleration due to gravity of 9.8 m/s², is 98 m/s.
