Physics: Acceleration and Freefall Flashcard

Front

What is acceleration?

Back

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

Front

What is free fall?

Back

Free fall is the motion of an object under the influence of gravitational force only, with no other forces acting on it, such as air resistance.

Front

What is the formula for calculating distance in free fall?

Back

The formula is d = 1/2 * g * t², where d is the distance, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²), and t is the time in seconds.

Front

What is the final velocity of an object in free fall?

Back

The final velocity can be calculated using the formula v = g * t, where v is the final velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time in seconds.

Front

What does a steep slope on a velocity-time graph indicate?

Back

A steep slope on a velocity-time graph indicates a high acceleration.

Front

What happens to the acceleration of an object in free fall as it falls?

Back

The acceleration remains constant at approximately 9.8 m/s², regardless of the object's mass.

Front

What is terminal velocity?

Back

Terminal velocity is the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium (like air) prevents further acceleration.

Front

How does mass affect the acceleration of an object in free fall?

Back

In free fall, mass does not affect the acceleration; all objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum regardless of their mass.

Front

What is the relationship between speed and acceleration?

Back

Acceleration is the change in speed over time. If an object's speed increases, it has positive acceleration; if it decreases, it has negative acceleration (deceleration).

Front

What is the significance of the acceleration due to gravity?

Back

The acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²) is the rate at which objects accelerate towards the Earth when in free fall.