Free fall refers to the motion of an object falling solely under the influence of gravity, without any other forces acting upon it. In a vacuum or in the absence of significant air resistance, all objects near the Earth’s surface experience the same acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²). During free fall, the only force acting on the object is gravity, causing it to accelerate downward. The motion of an object in free fall is characterized by an initial velocity of zero (when released) and a constant acceleration due to gravity. The object will continue to fall until it reaches the ground or encounters another force, such as air resistance or an opposing upward force. Free fall is a fundamental concept in physics and is often used to illustrate principles related to gravity and motion.
