Calculate free fall motion: velocity, time, and height using gravity acceleration. Free online physics calculator for kinematics problems with step-by-step solutions and multiple unit support.
Calculate free fall motion: velocity, time, height using gravity acceleration
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Free fall is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the motion of an object falling solely under the influence of gravity, with no air resistance or other forces acting upon it. Whether you're studying kinematics, solving physics problems, or analyzing projectile motion, understanding free fall is essential. Our Free Fall Calculator makes it easy to calculate velocity, time, or height using the standard free fall equations: v = v₀ + gt, h = v₀t + (1/2)gt², and v² = v₀² + 2gh.
In true free fall, the only force acting on the object is gravity, which provides a constant downward acceleration. On Earth, this acceleration is approximately 9.80665 m/s² (32.174 ft/s²), though it varies slightly with location and altitude.
Our Free Fall Calculator is designed for simplicity and accuracy:
The calculator uses the fundamental free fall equations to solve for the missing variable.
Free fall motion is described by three key equations:
v = v₀ + gt
Where: v = final velocity, v₀ = initial velocity, g = gravity, t = time
This equation calculates the final velocity after a given time. If the object starts from rest (v₀ = 0), the equation simplifies to v = gt.
h = v₀t + (1/2)gt²
Where: h = height/distance, v₀ = initial velocity, g = gravity, t = time
This equation calculates the distance fallen after a given time. If the object starts from rest, it simplifies to h = (1/2)gt².
v² = v₀² + 2gh
Where: v = final velocity, v₀ = initial velocity, g = gravity, h = height
This equation relates velocity to height without requiring time. It's particularly useful when you know the height but not the time.
Free fall calculations are used in countless real-world scenarios:
Free fall calculations use various units depending on the application:
Standard Values:
An object is dropped from a height of 100 meters. What is its velocity when it hits the ground? (g = 9.80665 m/s²)
v₀ = 0 m/s, h = 100 m, g = 9.80665 m/s²
v² = v₀² + 2gh = 0² + 2 × 9.80665 × 100 = 1961.33
v = √1961.33 = 44.29 m/s
How long does it take for an object to fall 50 meters from rest? (g = 9.80665 m/s²)
v₀ = 0 m/s, h = 50 m, g = 9.80665 m/s²
h = (1/2)gt²
50 = 0.5 × 9.80665 × t²
t² = 10.194, t = 3.193 s
How far does an object fall in 3 seconds from rest? (g = 9.80665 m/s²)
v₀ = 0 m/s, t = 3 s, g = 9.80665 m/s²
h = (1/2)gt² = 0.5 × 9.80665 × 3² = 44.13 m
An object is thrown downward with an initial velocity of 10 m/s. What is its velocity after falling 20 meters? (g = 9.80665 m/s²)
v₀ = 10 m/s, h = 20 m, g = 9.80665 m/s²
v² = v₀² + 2gh = 10² + 2 × 9.80665 × 20 = 492.27
v = √492.27 = 22.19 m/s
Understanding the difference between free fall and other types of motion is important:
Our calculator assumes true free fall (no air resistance). For real-world applications with air resistance, you would need more complex calculations involving terminal velocity.
Gravity varies depending on location:
For most calculations, using the standard value of 9.80665 m/s² is sufficient, but our calculator allows you to input custom gravity values for different scenarios.
Free fall is the motion of an object falling solely under the influence of gravity, with no air resistance or other forces. In free fall, all objects accelerate at the same rate regardless of their mass (in a vacuum).
No! In true free fall (vacuum), all objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass. This was famously demonstrated by Galileo. In air, heavier objects may appear to fall faster due to air resistance, but in a vacuum, a feather and a hammer fall at the same rate.
On Earth's surface, the standard acceleration due to gravity is 9.80665 m/s² (32.174 ft/s²). This value varies slightly with location, altitude, and latitude, but 9.80665 m/s² is the standard value used in most calculations.
Yes! If an object is thrown upward, use a negative initial velocity. The calculator will calculate the motion correctly, including the upward phase and the downward free fall phase.
This calculator assumes no air resistance (true free fall). In reality, air resistance affects falling objects, especially at high velocities. For calculations involving air resistance, you would need to account for terminal velocity and use more complex equations.
Simply change the gravity value in the calculator. For example, on the Moon, use g = 1.62 m/s². On Mars, use g = 3.71 m/s². The calculator will work with any gravity value you provide.
Understanding free fall is fundamental to kinematics and has countless practical applications in physics, engineering, and everyday life. Our Free Fall Calculator simplifies these calculations, supporting custom gravity values and multiple unit conversions to make solving free fall problems easy and accurate.
Ready to explore more kinematics concepts? Check out our Velocity Calculator for general velocity calculations, our Acceleration Calculator for acceleration analysis, or our Terminal Velocity Calculator for motion with air resistance.
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