Which force acts on an object in free fall aside from gravity?

In the context of an object in free fall, the primary force acting on it is gravity. However, air resistance also plays a significant role, especially as the object moves through the atmosphere. Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of the object as it falls.

As the object accelerates downward due to gravity, it displaces air in its path, creating a force that acts upward against gravity. This opposing force becomes more pronounced as the object's speed increases and can significantly affect its motion, particularly at high velocities or with objects that have larger surface areas.

In essence, while gravity pulls the object downward, air resistance counteracts this motion, resulting in the object eventually reaching a terminal velocity where the downward force of gravity is balanced by the upward force of air resistance. This dynamic is crucial in understanding the behavior of falling objects in real-world scenarios.