Free Fall Time Calculator
Calculate the time required for objects to fall specific distances or reach certain velocities during free fall
Calculate Free Fall Time
Distance the object will fall
Starting velocity (0 for objects dropped from rest)
Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s² for Earth)
Unit for displaying the calculated time
Free Fall Time Results
Formula used:t = √(2h/g)
Input values: Height: 0.00m, Initial velocity: 0m/s, Gravity: 9.80665m/s²
Time in seconds: 0.0000 s
Physics Analysis
Example Calculations
100 ft Drop (No Initial Velocity)
Given: h = 100 ft = 30.48 m, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 9.80665 m/s²
Formula: t = √(2h/g)
Calculation: t = √(2 × 30.48 / 9.80665)
Result: t = 2.49 seconds
Reaching 50 m/s from Rest
Given: v = 50 m/s, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 9.80665 m/s²
Formula: t = (v - v₀) / g
Calculation: t = (50 - 0) / 9.80665
Result: t = 5.10 seconds
Moon Gravity (50m height)
Given: h = 50 m, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 1.625 m/s²
Formula: t = √(2h/g)
Calculation: t = √(2 × 50 / 1.625)
Result: t = 7.85 seconds
Free Fall Time Equations
Time from Height (v₀ = 0)
t = √(2h/g)
For objects dropped from rest
Time from Height (v₀ ≠ 0)
t = (-v₀ + √(v₀² + 2gh)) / g
For objects with initial velocity
Time from Velocity
t = (v - v₀) / g
Time to reach target velocity
Quadratic Form
h = v₀t + ½gt²
General height equation
Fall Time Examples
Common objects and their fall times:
Note: These times assume no air resistance and Earth gravity
Real-World Considerations
Objects reach terminal velocity due to air resistance
Terminal velocity varies by object shape and mass
Human terminal velocity: ~56 m/s (120 mph)
Raindrop terminal velocity: ~9 m/s
This calculator ignores air resistance for simplified calculations
Understanding Free Fall Time
What is Free Fall Time?
Free fall time is the duration an object takes to fall a specific distance or reach a certain velocity when only gravity acts upon it. It's independent of the object's mass and depends only on the initial conditions and gravitational acceleration.
Key Principles
- •All objects fall at the same rate in vacuum
- •Time depends on height, initial velocity, and gravity
- •Quadratic relationship between time and distance
- •Linear relationship between time and velocity
Formula Derivations
From Basic Kinematics
Position: h = v₀t + ½gt²
Velocity: v = v₀ + gt
Solving for time gives different forms
Quadratic Solution
For height: ½gt² + v₀t - h = 0
Using quadratic formula:
t = (-v₀ ± √(v₀² + 2gh)) / g
Practical Applications
- ✓Physics Education: Understanding motion and gravity
- ✓Engineering: Designing safety systems and timing
- ✓Aviation: Calculating drop times for equipment
- ✓Sports: Analyzing jumping and falling motions
Important Limitations
- ⚠️No Air Resistance: Real objects experience drag
- ⚠️Terminal Velocity: Maximum speed due to air resistance
- ⚠️Altitude Effects: Gravity and air density variations
- ⚠️Object Properties: Shape and mass affect real falls