As a free falling object speeds up, what is happening to its acceleration due to gravity- does it increase, decrease or stay the same? Why?
2007-01-20 03:25:21 · 7 answers · asked by Taylor S 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It stays the same.
Acceleration due to gravity is (within the normal ranges we talk about around the earth) a constant, 9.8 m/s^2. Or, said in words, "9.8 meters per second, per second". Spoken that way, it's clear that a constant acceleration is an increase in speed over time.
So, while the velocity of a falling object keeps increasing due to gravity (that it, its "meters per second" goes up every "second", the acceleration always remains constant.
2007-01-20 03:31:19 · answer #1 · answered by TimmyD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Acceleration due to gravity, g = GM/(R+h)^2
G = Universal gravitation constant =6.6742 x 10^(-11) N.m^2 / kg^2
M = Mass of earth = 5.98 x 10^24 kg
R = Radius of earth = 6 371 km (average)
h = Height of falling body
g remains constant for a short distance
Total acceleration reduces due to higher air friction resistance at higher speed and at certain speed, total acceleration will reduce to zero >> achieving constant speed
If distance h in the above equation changes substantially, g will increase - not for speed but for reduced height above the earth surface
2007-01-20 12:36:22 · answer #2 · answered by Sheen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the acceleration due to gravity remains the same, but the velocity increases.
Remember, the acceleration due to gravity is 9.81m/s^2. With every second, the object goes faster. It's accelerating, increasing its speed. The rate at which it accelerates, 9.81m/s^2, remains the same.
2007-01-20 12:15:32 · answer #3 · answered by Aviva Dibrov 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its acceleration due to gravity will always be 9.81 ms-2. however as it speeds up and falls for longer, air resistance will become a factor as it approches its terminal velocity and so acceleration will decrease until it reaches terminal velocity which is when the drag and weight(which are opposing forces on an object in freefall) equal each other where acceleraton will be 0
2007-01-20 11:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by virt_bald 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Acceleration is itself an increase in velocity. The velocity increases but the acceleration is constant. Gets a little more complicated in air as drag increases with an increase in velocity.
2007-01-20 12:00:22 · answer #5 · answered by verner66 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It increases to a point then stops. Once an object reaches terminal velocity, gravity is equalized by wind resistance.
2007-01-20 11:33:16 · answer #6 · answered by Draco Paladin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It stays the same because near the earth g is a constant.
2007-01-20 11:32:32 · answer #7 · answered by daedgewood 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋