Yes, gravity does affect the acceleration due to free fall. In fact, the acceleration due to gravity is the very reason for the phenomenon of free fall.
In the absence of any other forces (such as air resistance), when an object is dropped from a height or allowed to fall freely, it experiences the force of gravity pulling it towards the Earth. This force causes the object to accelerate downwards. The acceleration due to gravity is denoted by the symbol "g" and is approximately equal to 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²) near the surface of the Earth.
This means that in free fall, the velocity of an object increases by 9.8 m/s every second it falls. The acceleration due to gravity remains constant throughout the free fall, leading to a linear increase in velocity over time. This is known as uniform acceleration.
It's important to note that the acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the falling object (in the absence of air resistance). In other words, regardless of the mass of the object, it will experience the same acceleration due to gravity and fall at the same rate (neglecting any effects of air resistance or other forces).
In summary, gravity plays a crucial role in free fall as it causes the acceleration of the falling object. The acceleration due to gravity remains constant throughout the free fall and is approximately equal to 9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface.