The acceleration due to free fall on the Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²) directed downward. This value is commonly represented by the symbol "g."
Near the surface of the Earth, all objects experience the force of gravity pulling them downward. According to Newton's second law of motion, the force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. For objects in free fall, the force of gravity is the only force acting on them. Therefore, the force of gravity is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.
Mathematically, this can be expressed as:
Force of gravity (F) = mass (m) × acceleration due to gravity (g)
Solving for acceleration (g), we get:
g = F / m
On the Earth's surface, the force of gravity is approximately constant, regardless of the object's mass (assuming we neglect air resistance). This means that the acceleration due to gravity is also constant. The average value for this acceleration is approximately 9.8 m/s².
It's important to note that this value is an average and can vary slightly depending on factors such as location, altitude, and local gravitational anomalies. However, for most practical purposes, 9.8 m/s² is a commonly used approximation for the acceleration due to free fall on the Earth's surface.