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Free Fall Time Equation:
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The free fall time equation calculates the time it takes for an object to fall from a certain height under the influence of gravity, neglecting air resistance. This is derived from the equations of motion under constant acceleration.
The calculator uses the free fall time equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation assumes the object starts from rest and falls freely under constant gravitational acceleration without air resistance.
Details: Calculating free fall time is essential in physics, engineering, safety planning, and various applications where understanding the time of descent is important, such as in construction, amusement park design, and emergency evacuation planning.
Tips: Enter height in meters and gravitational acceleration in m/s². Standard Earth gravity is 9.81 m/s². All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Does this equation account for air resistance?
A: No, this equation assumes ideal conditions without air resistance. For objects with significant air resistance, the actual fall time will be longer.
Q2: Can this be used for objects thrown downward?
A: This specific equation is for objects dropped from rest (initial velocity = 0). For objects with initial downward velocity, a different equation is needed.
Q3: What if the gravitational acceleration is different?
A: You can input different g values for different celestial bodies (e.g., Moon: 1.62 m/s², Mars: 3.71 m/s²).
Q4: How accurate is this calculation for real-world applications?
A: For dense objects falling short distances, it's quite accurate. For light objects or long falls, air resistance becomes significant and reduces accuracy.
Q5: What's the maximum height this equation can be used for?
A: Theoretically, it works for any height, but for very high altitudes, gravitational acceleration changes slightly, and air resistance becomes increasingly important.