Why balls drop

Balls, like any other object, drop due to the force of gravity. Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that attracts objects with mass toward each other. The Earth has a significant mass, which exerts a gravitational pull on objects near its surface. Here’s a breakdown of the process: 1. **Gravity**: When you hold a ball and then let it go, the force of gravity pulls it downward toward the center of the Earth. 2. **Free Fall**: Once released, the ball accelerates downward at approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (on Earth) due to this gravitational pull. This acceleration is constant, meaning that the ball speeds up as it falls. 3. **Air Resistance**: As the ball falls, it encounters air resistance, which is a force that acts opposite to the direction of the ball's motion. The effect of air resistance becomes more significant as the ball's speed increases, and it eventually reaches a point called terminal velocity, where the force of gravity is balanced by air resistance, causing the ball to fall at a constant speed. 4. **Impact**: When the ball reaches the ground, it comes to a stop due to the solid surface exerting an upward force equal to the downward force of gravity on the ball. In summary, balls drop primarily because of the gravitational force exerted by the Earth.