What happens to objects in free fall?

Objects in free fall experience acceleration due to gravity, which pulls them downward at a constant rate. On Earth, this acceleration is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (m/s²). This means that for every second an object is in free fall, its velocity increases by about 9.81 m/s.

This constant acceleration occurs as long as the object is under the influence of gravity and is free from other forces, such as air resistance, which can affect the motion but are often negligible in introductory physics scenarios. For instance, if a rock is dropped from a height, it will continue to accelerate until it reaches the ground, assuming no other forces come into play.

The other options do not accurately describe the behavior of free-falling objects. They do not stop moving after a certain height unless they hit the ground or another surface. They do not experience zero gravity; instead, they are under the influence of gravitational pull, which is what causes them to accelerate downward. Lastly, they do not move upward; rather, they fall toward the Earth due to gravitational attraction.