Free Fall

Learning objectives

Use the prepared scene to investigate the following physical ideas:

• Gravitational acceleration
• Velocity and displacement
• Energy loss during impact

Available controls

The workspace lets you pause and play the scene, select its objects, edit the starting properties described below, reset the scene, and inspect configured live graph measurements.

1. Change the ball height while paused.
2. Press Play.
3. Inspect the live velocity and acceleration graph.

Expected observations

• Vertical speed increases nearly linearly before impact.
• Acceleration approaches 9.81 m/s² downward.
• The floor collision dissipates some energy.

Model limitations

The authored scene uses a uniform gravitational field and simplified drag. Results after the floor impact depend on restitution and the numerical contact model.

Simulation output is educational and approximate. Verify important results with independent calculations or physical measurements.