The term "free fall" refers to a state of motion where an object falls downward freely under the influence of gravity, with no other force acting upon it. The spelling of this term can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /fri fɔːl/. The first syllable is pronounced like "free", with a long "e" sound. The second syllable has an "o" sound, like "more", but starts with an "f" sound (/fɔːl/). Together, these sounds create the word "free fall".
Free fall refers to the state of an object when it is only subject to the force of gravity, resulting in its unresisted downward motion. In this context, the object is not experiencing any other upward or opposing forces such as air resistance or propulsion, leading to an acceleration solely due to gravity.
Free fall can occur when an object is released from rest from a certain height, or when an object is dropped vertically downward with no initial velocity. During free fall, the object accelerates at a constant rate towards the Earth's surface, which is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared on the surface of the planet.
The term "free fall" is derived from the idea that the object is essentially falling freely, without any apparent support or contact with a surface or medium. It is an essential concept in physics and is often used to study and analyze the principles of gravity, motion, and acceleration.
It is important to note that free fall does not necessarily imply a rapid descent or a lack of control. It simply describes the movement of an object under the sole influence of gravity, highlighting the absence of any other significant forces acting upon it. Free fall is a fundamental concept applied in various fields such as physics, engineering, and space exploration to understand the behavior of objects in a gravitational field.
The word "free fall" originated from the combination of two separate words: "free" and "fall".
1. "Free": The word "free" stems from the Old English word "freo" or "frēo", which meant "not in bondage, acting of one's own will". It is also related to Old High German "fri" and German "frei", both meaning "free". The term "free" has a broader connotation of liberation, absence of restriction, or independence.
2. "Fall": The word "fall" traces its roots back to the Old English word "feallan", which means "to fall, descend" or "to drop from a height". This word can be dated back to the Proto-Germanic word "fallanan" and the Proto-Indo-European "phol" or "pol", both indicating the concept of descending or dropping.