Free Fall

The video tutorial explains the concept of acceleration and freefall, emphasizing that objects falling towards Earth accelerate due to gravity. It distinguishes between freefall, where only gravity acts on an object, and situations where other forces, like air resistance, are present. The moon is used as an example of an object in freefall, maintaining its orbit due to its tangential speed and distance from Earth. The tutorial also clarifies the difference between the acceleration due to Earth's gravity (small g) and the universal gravitational constant (capital G). It highlights that gravitational acceleration is independent of an object's mass, meaning all objects accelerate at the same rate in freefall.

What is required for an object to be considered in freefall?

• It must be moving at a constant speed.

• It must be influenced only by gravity.

• It must be affected by air resistance.

• It must be moving upwards.

Which of the following is an example of an object in freefall?

• A car driving down a hill

• A satellite orbiting Earth

• A leaf falling from a tree

• A balloon floating in the air

What does the small G represent in physics?

• The force of friction

• The universal constant of gravitation

• The acceleration due to Earth's gravity

• The speed of light

How does the acceleration due to gravity affect objects of different masses?

• Objects do not accelerate under gravity.

• Heavier objects accelerate faster than lighter ones.

• Lighter objects accelerate faster than heavier ones.

• All objects accelerate at the same rate regardless of mass.

What is the difference between small G and capital G?

• Small G is a temperature, while capital G is a pressure.

• Small G is a distance, while capital G is a time.

• Small G is the acceleration due to gravity, while capital G is the universal constant of gravitation.

• Small G is a force, while capital G is a speed.