Free Fall

Define acceleration as the rate at which the velocity of an object changes.
Understand that an object slowing down (decelerating) has a negative acceleration.
Calculate the acceleration of an object from the gradient of a velocity-time graph.
Determine the distance travelled (or displacement) by calculating the area under a velocity-time graph, including by counting squares when appropriate (Higher Tier only).
Recall that near the Earth's surface, any object falling freely under gravity has an acceleration of approximately 9.8 m/s².
Explain that an object falling through a fluid initially accelerates due to gravity but eventually reaches a terminal velocity when the resultant force becomes zero.
Recall and apply the equation for acceleration: $a = \frac{\Delta v}{t}$

What you need to know