* Constant Acceleration: The acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that for every second an object falls, its downward velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second.
* Neglecting Air Resistance: This explanation assumes we are neglecting air resistance. In reality, air resistance plays a significant role, especially for objects with large surface areas or low density.
* Uniform Increase in Velocity: As the object falls, its velocity increases uniformly, leading to a constantly increasing downward speed.
* Constant Rate of Change in Velocity: The rate of change of velocity is constant, which is what defines acceleration.
Important Points:
* No Initial Velocity: If an object is simply dropped from rest, its initial velocity is 0 m/s.
* Vertical Motion: Free fall is essentially vertical motion, meaning the acceleration only acts in the downward direction.
* Terminal Velocity: When air resistance becomes equal to the force of gravity, the object stops accelerating and reaches a constant velocity called terminal velocity. This is not technically part of free fall as the force is no longer solely gravity.
To summarize: Free fall near the Earth's surface is characterized by a constant acceleration due to gravity, resulting in a uniform increase in velocity. While the acceleration is constant, the velocity is not, as it continuously increases.
