Last updated: May 08, 2024

Free Fall Time Calculator

Q: How long does it take for an object to fall 100 ft?

It takes 2.49 seconds for something to fall 100 ft (If the initial velocity is equal to zero and there is no air resistance.). If there is air resistance, as in reality, objects will fall longer. It will depend on their density, mass, and cross-section area. Read more

Q: Why is acceleration constant in free fall?

In free fall, the only force acting on an object is the gravitational force, which causes acceleration . The magnitude of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the object that produces it. In free fall, the Earth produces the force, and because Earth has constant mass, it causes constant acceleration. Read more

Table of contents

How to calculate free fall time?Other free fall related tools FAQs

Find the time an object needs to reach certain velocity or distance with our free fall time calculator. If you want to learn how long does it take for an object to fall, or how to calculate free fall time - you're in the right place. In a few minutes you'll know what free fall time equations you can use, and calculate almost as quickly as our calculator.

How to calculate free fall time?

There are several ways to find the time of free fall. It depends what values you already know.
If you know the distance the object will travel trough you can use one of these equations (it's a transformed distance formula):

If the initial velocity is equal to zero, so if you drop an object without using any force, the free fall time equation is as follows:

\quad \footnotesize t = \sqrt \frac{2h}{g} \text{, where:}

$\footnotesize h$ is the height from which the object is dropped (expressed in meters), and
$\footnotesize g$ is the gravitational force (expresssed in m/s²).

If the object has initial velocity, so it was pushed, the formula gets more complicated. Now, you have to solve a quadratic formula:

\quad \footnotesize h = v_0t + \frac{1}{2}gt^2 \text{, where:}

$\footnotesize v_0$ is the initial velocity (expressed in m/s).

You can also find the time it will take an object to reach a certain velocity:

\quad \footnotesize t = \frac{v-v_0}{g}\text{, where:}

$\footnotesize v$ is the maximum velocity (expressed in m/s).

An object in free fall will accelerate because of gravitational force, so the velocity will increase. In reality, it can increace only to a certain point, which you can find in the free fall with air resistance calculator.

FAQs

How fast do objects fall?

Objects fall at the same speed, depending on time and height. But that is only in absence of air resistance. In reality, the speed of a falling object depends on its density, mass, and structure.

How long does it take for an object to fall 100 ft?

It takes 2.49 seconds for something to fall 100 ft (If the initial velocity is equal to zero and there is no air resistance.). If there is air resistance, as in reality, objects will fall longer. It will depend on their density, mass, and cross-section area.

Why is acceleration constant in free fall?

In free fall, the only force acting on an object is the gravitational force, which causes acceleration. The magnitude of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the object that produces it. In free fall, the Earth produces the force, and because Earth has constant mass, it causes constant acceleration.

Data

Gravitational acceleration (g)

Initial velocity (v₀)

Height (h)

Velocity (v)

Result

Time of fall (t)

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