1. Acceleration due to gravity: Gravity causes objects to accelerate. This means their velocity changes over time. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that every second, the velocity of a falling object increases by 9.8 meters per second.
2. Direction of acceleration: Gravity pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity is always downwards.
3. Effect on vertical velocity:
* Free fall: If an object is dropped from rest, gravity will cause it to accelerate downwards, increasing its downward velocity.
* Throwing upwards: If an object is thrown upwards, gravity will cause its upward velocity to decrease until it reaches zero, then it will start accelerating downwards.
4. Effect on horizontal velocity:
* In a vacuum, gravity would have no effect on horizontal velocity.
* In reality, air resistance can act against the horizontal motion, but gravity itself doesn't directly influence horizontal velocity.
Example:
Imagine a ball thrown horizontally from a cliff. Its initial velocity is only horizontal. Gravity will then cause the ball to accelerate downwards, increasing its vertical velocity. As a result, the ball will follow a curved path, with its horizontal velocity remaining constant (ignoring air resistance) and its vertical velocity constantly increasing.
In summary:
* Gravity causes objects to accelerate downwards.
* This acceleration changes the object's vertical velocity.
* Gravity does not directly affect horizontal velocity in a vacuum, but air resistance can influence it.
It's important to remember that these effects are simplified explanations. In reality, factors like air resistance and the curvature of the Earth can further influence velocity and motion.
