A particle in free fall is a type of motion in which a body is falling under the sole influence of gravity. This means that the only force acting on the particle is the force of gravity, which causes it to accelerate towards the ground.
The acceleration of a particle in free fall is always constant and equal to the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s² near the surface of the Earth. This means that the particle's speed will increase by 9.8 meters per second every second.
The distance traveled by a particle in free fall can be calculated using the equation d = 1/2 * g * t^2, where d is the distance traveled, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time elapsed. This equation assumes that the particle is starting from rest.
Air resistance, also known as drag, can affect a particle in free fall by slowing down its acceleration. This is because as the particle falls, it pushes against the air molecules in its path, which creates an opposing force that counteracts the force of gravity.
The final velocity of a particle in free fall depends on the height from which it is dropped. Using the equation v = √(2 * g * h), where v is the final velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height, we can determine the final velocity at any given height. At ground level, the final velocity will be equal to the initial velocity (usually 0 m/s) plus the velocity gained from falling for a certain amount of time.