When a stone is dropped from rest, the only force acting on it is the force of gravity. According to Newton's second law of motion, the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In this case, the mass of the stone remains constant.
The force of gravity is given by the equation:
Force of gravity (weight) = mass × acceleration due to gravity
Since the stone is dropped near the Earth's surface, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². Therefore, the force of gravity acting on the stone is equal to its weight.
The acceleration of the stone when it is dropped is equal to the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s². This value remains constant throughout the stone's fall, neglecting air resistance.
So, the acceleration of the stone immediately after it is dropped is approximately 9.8 m/s².