Today’s Topic

Free Fall

What is Free Fall?

Free FallFree Fall is when an object moves downward only as the result of gravity.

When an object is in Free Fall we ignore air resistance. In other words, we treat it as if it were in a vacuum.

Free Fall

In a vacuum, such as space, the only thing acting on an object is gravity. As a result, all things fall with the same acceleration. Why?

Free Fall

Galileo Galilei

1564-1642 Galileo was born the same year Shakespeare was born and Michelangelo died. Galileo’s work involved the study of motion and astronomy.

Free FallGalileo’s experiments showed that all objects fall at the same speed no matter what their weight. This contradicted the official position of the Catholic Church at the time, and as a result Galileo was labeled a heretic. He was placed under house arrest in 1638 where he remained until he died six years later.

Free Fall

When gravity acts on an object we call this gravitational acceleration or g.Scientists have determined that

the average gravitational acceleration on Earth is 9.8

m/s2.Would the value of g be the

same on the moon or on Mars?

Free Fall

How Fast? How Far?

Free Fall

Remember, velocity and acceleration are not the same

thing.