When a person moves freely under gravity, how is their acceleration affected as they fall?

When a person moves freely under the influence of gravity, their acceleration remains constant throughout the fall. This is due to the fact that, in the absence of significant air resistance, the only force acting on the person is the force of gravity. This force accelerates the individual at approximately 9.81 m/s², which is the acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface.

As the person falls, they will experience a constant acceleration downwards. While they gain speed over time, their rate of acceleration does not change. This concept applies as long as we consider free fall without the impact of air resistance, which would introduce drag forces that could alter the acceleration experienced by the object.

Understanding this principle is vital for comprehending motion under gravity in classical mechanics, ensuring that one appreciates the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration as described by Newton's second law.