Question

If a freely falling object were somehow equipped with a speedometer, how much would its speed increase each second? (Answer quantitatively.)

Answer 1

9.8 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

A freely falling object is under the influence of gravity. And the gravitational acceleration of Earth is -9.8 m/s2. Here, the negative sign indicates that the acceleration vector is towards the ground.

Therefore, the object gains 9.8 m/s each second.

Applying the equation of kinematics will show the velocity of the object.

`v_y = v_(0_y) + a_y t\\v_y = v_(0_y) - 9.8t`

At t = 0:

`v_y = v_(0_y)`

At t = 1:

`v_y = v_(0_y) - 9.8`

At t = 2:

`v_y = v_(0_y) - 2(9.8)`

Therefore, the speed of the object would increase 9.8 m/s each second until it hits the ground.