GCSE Physics (AQA)

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Acceleration Due to Gravity

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Forces Forces and motion

Acceleration Due to Gravity

3:26 Terminal Velocity
Spec 4.5.6.1.5
Previous Area Under a Velocity-Time Graph Next Terminal Velocity
  • Objects falling freely under gravity near Earth's surface have a downward acceleration of approximately 9.8 meters per second squared.
  • Acceleration measures how much velocity changes over time.
  • An apple falling freely under gravity is only acted upon by its weight, calculated as mg (mass x gravitational field strength).
  • If no other forces act on the apple, its acceleration is 9.8 meters per second squared.
  • All free-falling objects theoretically have the same acceleration.
  • Galileo's experiment showed that objects of different masses fall at the same rate when dropped from the same height.
  • Misconception: Heavier objects fall faster due to greater acceleration from gravity.
  • In practice, objects fall at different speeds due to varying air resistance.
  • Air resistance is a force caused by collisions with air molecules, influenced by factors like object shape.
  • A feather and a rock fall at different rates due to differing air resistance, not different gravitational acceleration.
  • Freely falling objects theoretically experience the same acceleration, but other forces often affect them in practice.
  • Understanding the theory of free-fall acceleration is important, despite practical variations.

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