Physics
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Quick fact
Near Earth's surface, every object accelerates downward at roughly 9.8 meters per second squared.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered why all objects fall at the same speed when dropped? It’s not about size or weight—it’s gravity!
Read the full explanation
Understanding Acceleration Due to Gravity
When an object is in free fall near Earth, it speeds up by about 9.8 meters every second. This happens because of the force of gravity pulling it toward the center of the planet. No matter how heavy or light the object is, this acceleration remains constant (ignoring air resistance).
A deeper explanation
Acceleration due to gravity arises from Earth’s gravitational pull on objects. The strength of this pull depends on mass and distance, but near Earth's surface, it simplifies to a constant value. This principle explains why all objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum, forming the basis for many physics problems involving motion under gravity.