Question

conceptual (1 - 10)
1 t / f free - fall motion occurs when the only force acting on an object is gravity.
2 t / f in free - fall, the acceleration of an object near earth’s surface is approximately 9.8 m/s² downward.
3 t / f the mass of an object does not affect its acceleration during free fall, ignoring air resistance.
4 t / f at the highest point of its path, a vertically thrown object has zero velocity.
5 t / f at the highest point of its path, a vertically thrown object still has downward acceleration equal to g.
6 t / f an object thrown upward continues to experience downward acceleration due to gravity throughout its motion.
7 t / f the velocity of an object increases by about 9.8 m/s every second during free fall, ignoring air resistance.
8 t / f an object dropped from rest travels greater distances in each successive second of its fall due to increasing velocity.
9 t / f the direction of acceleration is always downward during free - fall motion.
10 t / f the time it takes an object to rise to its highest point equals the time it takes to fall back down to the same height.

Explanation:

1. By definition, free - fall is motion under the sole influence of gravity, so this is True.
2. Near Earth's surface, the acceleration due to gravity for free - fall is approximately 9.8 m/s² downward, so this is True.
3. According to Newton's second law and the gravitational force formula, mass cancels out in free - fall acceleration calculations, so this is True.
4. At the peak of its vertical motion, an object stops momentarily before falling back, so velocity is zero, this is True.
5. Even at the highest point, the force of gravity still acts downward, resulting in a downward acceleration of g, so this is True.
6. Gravity always acts downward, so an upward - thrown object has a downward acceleration throughout its motion, this is True.
7. Since the acceleration in free - fall is 9.8 m/s², the velocity changes by 9.8 m/s every second, this is True.
8. As the velocity of a falling object increases due to acceleration, it travels more distance each successive second, this is True.
9. The force of gravity acts downward, so the acceleration in free - fall is always downward, this is True.
10. Due to the symmetry of free - fall motion (same acceleration and initial - final height conditions), the time up equals the time down, this is True.

Answer:

1. T. Free - fall motion occurs when the only force acting on an object is gravity.
2. T. In free - fall, the acceleration of an object near Earth’s surface is approximately 9.8 m/s² downward.
3. T. The mass of an object does not affect its acceleration during free fall, ignoring air resistance.
4. T. At the highest point of its path, a vertically thrown object has zero velocity.
5. T. At the highest point of its path, a vertically thrown object still has downward acceleration equal to g.
6. T. An object thrown upward continues to experience downward acceleration due to gravity throughout its motion.
7. T. The velocity of an object increases by about 9.8 m/s every second during free fall, ignoring air resistance.
8. T. An object dropped from rest travels greater distances in each successive second of its fall due to increasing velocity.
9. T. The direction of acceleration is always downward during free - fall motion.
10. T. The time it takes an object to rise to its highest point equals the time it takes to fall back down to the same height.