The maximum speed of a free-falling body depends on the gravitational acceleration and the time of fall. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (9.8 m/s²).
To calculate the maximum speed at the end of the 5th second, we can use the formula for the velocity of an object in free fall:
Velocity = Acceleration x Time
In this case, the acceleration is the gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/s², and the time is 5 seconds. Plugging in these values, we can find the maximum speed:
Velocity = 9.8 m/s² x 5 s = 49 m/s
Therefore, at the end of the 5th second, the maximum speed of the free-falling body would be 49 meters per second.