Physics 1
Kinematics Notes
Free Fall - Distance Fallen From Rest

BHS -> Staff -> Mr. Stanbrough -> Physics -> Mechanics -> Kinematics -> this page

So far, we know that the acceleration of an object in free fall ("g") is constant, and about 10 m/s/s near the surface of the Earth. This means that as an object falls, its velocity increases by about 10 m/s each second.

Without any calculation at all, you can see that if the speed of the object increases with time as it falls, the distance that it falls each second must increase as it falls - after all, it is going faster and faster, so it will cover more and more distance in the same time interval.

To see how the distance fallen in free fall increases with time, study the animation at the right.

[Chapter 2 Objectives]

BHS -> Staff -> Mr. Stanbrough -> Physics -> Mechanics -> Kinematics -> this page

last update July 28, 2001 by JL Stanbrough

Physics 1 Kinematics Notes Free Fall - Distance Fallen From Rest

Physics 1
Kinematics Notes
Free Fall - Distance Fallen From Rest