What happens to an object under free fall?

What happens to an object under free fall?

• A. It moves with constant velocity
• B. It accelerates due to air resistance
• C. It accelerates due to gravity
• D. It remains stationary

Answer: (C)

When an object is in free fall, it experiences the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s² near the surface of the Earth. This means that as the object falls, its velocity increases steadily in the downward direction at this constant rate, assuming that air resistance is negligible. The term "free fall" specifically refers to motion under the influence of gravity alone, without any other forces acting on it (like air resistance or friction). In an ideal scenario of free fall, the object does not move with constant velocity, as that would imply no change in speed over time. Instead, it accelerates downward. While air resistance does affect some objects in free fall, in the context of this question, we are focusing on the core principle that objects accelerate solely due to gravity, especially in a vacuum where air resistance is eliminated. Thus, remaining stationary is not consistent with free fall since the object is actively accelerating downward under the influence of gravity.

When an object is in free fall, it experiences the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s² near the surface of the Earth. This means that as the object falls, its velocity increases steadily in the downward direction at this constant rate, assuming that air resistance is negligible. The term "free fall" specifically refers to motion under the influence of gravity alone, without any other forces acting on it (like air resistance or friction).

In an ideal scenario of free fall, the object does not move with constant velocity, as that would imply no change in speed over time. Instead, it accelerates downward. While air resistance does affect some objects in free fall, in the context of this question, we are focusing on the core principle that objects accelerate solely due to gravity, especially in a vacuum where air resistance is eliminated. Thus, remaining stationary is not consistent with free fall since the object is actively accelerating downward under the influence of gravity.