6.4 Gravity and Freefall

Front

What is free fall?

Back

Free fall is the motion of an object falling under the influence of gravity alone, with no other forces acting on it.

Front

In a vacuum, do all objects fall at the same rate?

Back

Yes, in a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass.

Front

What is the acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface?

Back

The acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s².

Front

What happens to the speed of a freely falling object each second?

Back

The speed of a freely falling object increases by about 10 m/s each second.

Front

What is terminal velocity?

Back

Terminal velocity is the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium prevents further acceleration.

Front

What is the formula to calculate the distance fallen during free fall?

Back

The formula is d = 0.5 * g * t², where d is distance, g is acceleration due to gravity, and t is time.

Front

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Back

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on that mass.

Front

How does air resistance affect falling objects?

Back

Air resistance opposes the motion of falling objects, affecting their acceleration and terminal velocity.

Front

What is the significance of Galileo's experiments on falling objects?

Back

Galileo demonstrated that objects of different masses fall at the same rate in the absence of air resistance.

Front

What is the effect of height on the time it takes for an object to fall?

Back

The greater the height, the longer it takes for an object to fall, assuming no air resistance.