NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Practice Exam

Which factor is required to calculate the final velocity of an object in free fall?

1. Initial velocity

2. Time

3. Acceleration due to gravity

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

To calculate the final velocity of an object in free fall, all three factors—initial velocity, time, and acceleration due to gravity—are indeed required. The initial velocity represents the starting speed of the object before it begins to fall. If the object is dropped from rest, the initial velocity would be zero. However, if it is projected downward or upward, this factor would need to be considered in the calculation. Time is crucial as it determines how long the object has been in free fall. The longer the time period, the more the object accelerates due to gravity, leading to a higher final velocity. Finally, acceleration due to gravity, typically approximated as \(9.81 m/s^2\) on Earth, is the force acting on the object that causes it to accelerate downwards. It influences how quickly the object's velocity increases over time. The formula that brings these factors together is often stated as: \[ v_f = v_i + (g \cdot t) \] where \(v_f\) is the final velocity, \(v_i\) is the initial velocity, \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(t\) is the time in free fall. Each