Law of Falling bodies

Falling bodies, Law of, group of rules that tell what an object does when it falls freely to the ground. The force of gravity acts on all bodies in the same way, regardless of their shape, size, or density. Distance, velocity, and acceleration are the 3 factors to be considered when studying the laws of falling bodies. The velocity of a falling body is determined by how much the air resists it, which may in turn be determined by its shape. Acceleration is the rate at which a body's speed increases as it falls. The 16th-century scientist Galilei was instrumental in proving the laws of falling bodies.

See also: Galileo Galilei; Physics.