If we assume that air resistance is negligible, the time it takes for an object to fall from rest and hit the ground can be calculated using the laws of motion. The time is determined by the height from which the object is dropped and the acceleration due to gravity.
The time it takes for an object to fall can be found using the following equation:
t = √(2h/g)
where: t = time in seconds h = height in meters g = acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth)
This equation assumes that the object is dropped vertically downward and there are no other forces acting on it apart from gravity.
For example, let's calculate the time it takes for an object dropped from a height of 10 meters:
t = √(2 * 10 m / 9.8 m/s²) t ≈ √(20/9.8) t ≈ √2.04 t ≈ 1.43 seconds
Therefore, if air resistance is negligible, it would take approximately 1.43 seconds for the object to hit the ground when dropped from a height of 10 meters.