Object falling freely accelerates due to:

**The reasoning** When you release an object and it falls toward the ground, there's only one force pulling it downward: **gravity**. This is Earth's gravitational force acting on the object's mass. Free fall means the object is falling *without* any support or propulsion — just responding to gravity's pull. The acceleration is constant at approximately **g = 10 m/s²** (or more precisely 9.8 m/s²). This means every second, the object's velocity increases by 10 m/s downward. Whether it's a stone, book, or mango falling from a tree — gravity is the sole cause of that downward acceleration. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Wind** can push objects sideways or slow them down, but doesn't cause the *downward* acceleration - **Friction** (air resistance) actually *opposes* motion and slows falling objects — it doesn't accelerate them - **Magnetism** only affects magnetic materials like iron — it won't pull a stone or paper downward **Quick takeaway** Gravity is the universal force that pulls all objects toward Earth's center — it's the *only* reason things accelerate downward when falling freely.