Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Free fall occurs when an object falls under the sole influence of gravity, without any other forces acting upon it. During free fall, all objects experience acceleration due to gravity at approximately 9.8 m/s².
Related terms
Terminal Velocity: Terminal velocity is the maximum speed an object can reach while falling through a fluid, such as air. It occurs when the force of gravity equals the force of air resistance.
Projectile motion refers to the curved path followed by an object launched into the air that experiences only the force of gravity and no other horizontal forces.
Acceleration due to Gravity: Acceleration due to gravity is the rate at which an object accelerates towards Earth under the influence of gravity, approximately 9.8 m/s² near its surface.