Free Fall Velocity Calculator
Calculate the velocity reached by objects during free fall using time, height, or initial conditions
Calculate Free Fall Velocity
Duration of the free fall motion
Starting velocity (0 for objects dropped from rest)
Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s² for Earth)
Unit for displaying the calculated velocity
Free Fall Velocity Results
Formula used:v = v₀ + gt
Input values: Time: 0.00s, Initial velocity: 0m/s, Gravity: 9.80665m/s²
Velocity in m/s: 0.0000 m/s
Physics Analysis
Example Calculations
10-Second Fall from Rest
Given: t = 10s, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 9.80665 m/s²
Formula: v = v₀ + gt
Calculation: v = 0 + 9.80665 × 10
Result: v = 98.07 m/s
100-Meter Drop
Given: h = 100 m, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 9.80665 m/s²
Formula: v = √(2gh)
Calculation: v = √(2 × 9.80665 × 100)
Result: v = 44.29 m/s
Moon Gravity (5 seconds)
Given: t = 5s, v₀ = 0 m/s, g = 1.625 m/s²
Formula: v = gt
Calculation: v = 1.625 × 5
Result: v = 8.13 m/s
Free Fall Velocity Equations
Velocity from Time
v = v₀ + gt
When fall time is known
Velocity from Height
v = √(v₀² + 2gh)
When fall height is known
Velocity (No Initial)
v = √(2gh) = gt
For objects dropped from rest
Energy Conservation
½mv² = ½mv₀² + mgh
Alternative derivation
Velocity References
Common velocity references for perspective:
Terminal Velocity
Real objects reach terminal velocity due to air resistance:
Note: This calculator ignores air resistance for simplified physics calculations
Understanding Free Fall Velocity
What is Free Fall Velocity?
Free fall velocity is the speed an object reaches when falling under the influence of gravity alone. In a vacuum, all objects accelerate at the same rate regardless of their mass, reaching higher velocities the longer they fall or the farther they drop.
Key Physics Principles
- •Velocity increases linearly with time (v = v₀ + gt)
- •Velocity depends on fall height (v = √(v₀² + 2gh))
- •Mass doesn't affect free fall velocity in vacuum
- •Real objects reach terminal velocity due to air resistance
Formula Derivations
From Acceleration
Starting with: a = g (constant)
Integrating: v = v₀ + gt
This gives velocity from time
From Energy Conservation
Kinetic energy: ½mv² - ½mv₀²
Potential energy: mgh
Conservation: ½mv² = ½mv₀² + mgh
Therefore: v = √(v₀² + 2gh)
Practical Applications
- ✓Physics Education: Understanding kinematics and energy
- ✓Engineering: Designing safety systems and impact analysis
- ✓Sports: Analyzing diving, jumping, and ball sports
- ✓Space Science: Calculating re-entry velocities
Real-World Considerations
- ⚠️Air Resistance: Limits maximum velocity (terminal velocity)
- ⚠️Object Shape: Affects drag coefficient and terminal velocity
- ⚠️Altitude Effects: Air density and gravity change with height
- ⚠️Safety: High velocities can cause severe damage