Final answer:
The correct answer is A) 9.8 m/s², which represents the average acceleration due to gravity for a freely falling body on Earth without air resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceleration of a freely falling body on Earth is known as the acceleration due to gravity, which is typically represented by the symbol g. The average value of g near Earth's surface is 9.8 m/s² (meters per second squared). This value represents how fast an object's velocity changes per second while it is in free fall, assuming that air resistance is negligible.
It's important to note that acceleration has both a magnitude and a direction. In the context of free fall, if we define the upward direction as positive, the acceleration due to gravity would be -9.8 m/s², indicating a downward acceleration. Conversely, if downward is defined as positive, the acceleration due to gravity is +9.8 m/s².
Given the choices provided in the student's question: A) 9.8 m/s², B) 9.8 m, C) 9.8 m/s, and D) 9.8 s, the correct answer is A) 9.8 m/s².