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TheWonderer1
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How does this work exactly? I can understand depending on frame of reference but I read that Einstein stated there is a right way to think about that based on inertial and non-inertial frame of references.
Look up "equivalence principle" and "proper acceleration" vs. "coordinate acceleration".TheWonderer1 said:How does this work exactly?
Free fall is the motion of an object under the sole influence of gravity, with no other external forces acting on it. Acceleration, on the other hand, is the change in velocity over time and can occur due to a variety of factors such as gravity, friction, or applied force.
Einstein's theory of general relativity states that gravity is not a force between masses, but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of massive objects. This means that objects in free fall are actually following a curved path in spacetime, which appears as acceleration to an outside observer.
Einstein's theory is important because it provides a more complete and accurate understanding of gravity and its effects on objects in free fall. It also helps to explain phenomena that cannot be explained by Newton's theory of gravity, such as the orbit of Mercury and the bending of light around massive objects.
No, free fall cannot occur without the presence of gravity. Without gravity, there would be no force acting on the object, and it would not experience any acceleration. Therefore, free fall is dependent on the presence of a gravitational field.
Free fall is the initial stage of falling, in which an object is only under the influence of gravity and is accelerating towards the ground. Terminal velocity, on the other hand, is the maximum speed an object can reach when falling due to air resistance balancing out the force of gravity. Once an object reaches terminal velocity, it will continue to fall at a constant speed without accelerating further.