Final answer:
An object in free fall will have a speed of approximately 9.80 m/s after falling for 1 second, calculated by multiplying the acceleration due to gravity (9.80 m/s²) by the time in seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question is related to the free fall of an object in Physics. When an object starts from rest and falls freely under the influence of gravity alone, its speed after falling for a specific time can be calculated. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity, g, is approximately 9.80 m/s². Assuming there is no air resistance to oppose its motion, an object starting from rest will increase its velocity at the rate of 9.80 m/s for every second it is in free fall.
To calculate the speed of an object after 1 second of free fall, you use the equation v = gt, where v is velocity, g is acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time elapsed. Thus, after 1 second, the speed of the free-falling object would be v = 9.80 m/s² × 1 s = 9.80 m/s. This means that a freely falling object will not have a speed of about 40 m/s after falling for just 1 second, but instead will have a speed of approximately 9.80 m/s.