Grade 8 - Free Fall

The state that exists when the only force acting on an object is gravity is called

• free fall

• inertia

• acceleration

• momentum

The acceleration due to gravity near the surface of Earth is equal to

• 9.8 m/s

• 9.8 kg x m/s

• 9.8 N

• 9.8 m/s²

In a normal environment, why does a bowling ball and feather hit the ground at different times when dropped from the same height?

• They don't; they hit the ground at the same time.
• One is more dense than the other.
• One is heavier than the other.
• Air resistance 

A baseball is thrown up into the air. What happens to the velocity as the ball rises in the air?

• the velocity increases

• the velocity decreases

• the velocity remains constant

Heavier objects free fall faster than lighter objects in a vacuum found in outer space or on the moon.

• True

• False

Which would hit the ground first if dropped from the same height in a vacuum—a feather or a metal bolt?

• the feather
• the metal bolt
• They would hit the ground at the same time.
• They would be suspended in a vacuum.

Which would fall with greater acceleration in a vacuum—a leaf or a stone?

• the leaf
• the stone
• They would accelerate at the same rate.
• It is difficult to determine without more information.

If a dropped object on Earth was equipped with a speedometer, its speed reading would increase each second by

• about 5 m/s.

• about 10 m/s.

• about 15 m/s.

• a rate that depends on its initial speed.

On Earth, the reason a feather falls slower than a bowling ball is due to

• air resistance

• the feather being lighter than the bowling ball

• the feather having less mass

Define acceleration due to gravity.

• The force of gravity acting on an object.

• The velocity of an object under the influence of gravity.

• The acceleration experienced by an object due to gravity.

• The force of gravity.