free fall
free fall, in physics, the state of a body moving solely under the influence of gravitational forces (see gravitation ). A body falling freely toward the surface of the earth undergoes an acceleration due to gravity of 32 ft/sec 2 (9.8 m/sec 2), which is symbolized by g.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Physics