Free fall acceleration is generally considered constant at -9.8 m/s² when neglecting air resistance, which is a common assumption in introductory physics problems. However, this simplification does not account for the effects of air resistance, which can significantly alter the motion of falling objects. The gravitational force remains constant near the Earth's surface, but the actual acceleration experienced by an object can decrease due to air resistance, leading to phenomena such as terminal velocity. Therefore, in practical scenarios, the assumption of constant acceleration is valid only in a vacuum.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, educators teaching introductory mechanics, and anyone interested in the principles of motion and forces acting on falling objects.
That's correct. There's no air resistance in that equation.Jynku said:
It's not the acceleration that is constant, it's the gravitational force. (And that's only a reasonable approximation when you are close to Earth.)Jynku said:
It is assumed that there is vacuum around the falling object.Jynku said:
I don’t think there is any serious decrease in gravitational acceleration. We can take it as constant .PeroK said:
Do you know anything about air resistance?
The acceleration is most certainly reduced by air resistance, which is surely the point of the question. Look up "terminal velocity".rudransh verma said: