Free Fall Distance Calculator
With the free fall distance calculator, you can quickly find what height someone dropped an object from based on the time it landed or the velocity it reached. If you need to know how to calculate the distance in free fall, you're in the right place. Read on to learn the free fall distance formula and some facts about free falling.
How to calculate distance in free fall?
To calculate an object's distance fallen by time, you need to use a formula that combines time t, gravitational force g, and initial velocity v_0:
h = v_0t + ½gt²
If an object begins a free fall from a certain height without an additional force or push, the initial velocity would be equal to zero, which would simplify the free fall distance formula:
h = ½gt²
🙋 Remember to use the SI units!
- time - ss
- gravitational force - m/s2m/s2
- initial velocity - m/sm/s
- height - mm
In our free fall distance calculator, you don't have to care about units! It will convert them for you.
How to find distance of a falling object with velocity?
To calculate the distance fallen by reached velocity, you need to:
-
Transform the velocity equation to be a function of time:
v = v_0 + gt
t = (v - v_0)/g -
Input the time equation into the free fall distance formula:
h = v_0t + ½gt²
h = v_0t + ½g((v - v_0)/g)² -
Simplify the equation:
h = v_0t + ½(v - v_0)²/g -
To calculate the distance with velocity - simply use the equation! You can also use our free fall distance calculator.
Example of the free fall distance an object covers in 10 seconds
-
Recognize the data of the problem. We have v0=0 m/sv0=0 m/s and t=0 st=0 s.
-
Pick the formula we described in point one of the previous section. Obtain free fall velocity: 98.07 m/s98.07 m/s.
-
Calculate free fall distance with the formula we shared in point three of the previous section. We get a distance of 490.33 m490.33 m.
FAQs
- How to calculate distance in free fall?
- To calculate an object's distance fallen by time, you need to use a formula that combines time t, gravitational force g, and initial velocity v_0: h = v_0t + ½gt² If an object begins a free fall from a certain height without an additional force or push, the initial velocity would be equal to zero, which would simplify the free fall distance formula: h = ½gt²
- How to find distance of a falling object with velocity?
- To calculate the distance fallen by reached velocity, you need to: Transform the velocity equation to be a function of time: v = v_0 + gt t = (v - v_0)/g Input the time equation into the free fall distance formula: h = v_0t + ½gt² h = v_0t + ½g((v - v_0)/g)² Simplify the equation: h = v_0t + ½(v - v_0)²/g To calculate the distance with velocity - simply use the equation! You can also use our free fall distance calculator.
- How far do you fall in 3 seconds?
- In 3 seconds, you would fall 144.78 feet or 44.13 meters. Assuming you have the initial speed of 0, use the formula: h = ½ × g × t² We have 0.5 × 9.80665 × 3², which results in a free fall distance of: 44.13 meters.
- How far the object has to free fall for reaching 100 meters per second of speed?
- 509.86 m. Calculate the formula: h = ½(v)²/g Note we are considering initial speed as 0 m/s. Resolving the equation for a speed of 100 m/s, we obtain 509.86 meters as the distance to cover.
Related calculators
Acceleration
The acceleration calculator estimates acceleration using three different approaches – velocity difference, distance traveled over time, and net force vs. mass.
Physics
Density
Use the density calculator to instantly find how tightly packed an object's molecules are.
Physics
Free fall
Our free fall calculator can find the velocity of a falling object and the height it drops from.
Physics
Projectile motion
Use our projectile motion calculator to analyze a projectile in parabolic motion.
Physics