Free Fall Dictionary Definitions

Free fall refers to any vertical fall without support of any kind whose path is barely subject to the force of gravity. It is a concept applied to physics, but it is also a sports practice.

Free fall in Physics

According to Physics, as a free fall is designated that which a body experiences when it is only subjected to the action of gravity, and that involves a vertical descent. Hence, this definition excludes falls influenced, to a greater or lesser extent, by air resistance, as well as any other that occurs as a result of the presence of a fluid.

In a vacuum, the acceleration is constant, and is the same for all bodies, regardless of their shape and weight. The presence of fluids, such as air, for example, tends to slow this movement, making the acceleration depend on other factors, such as shape, weight or body density.

The acceleration in the free fall is the acceleration of gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s2 . If the movement is in descent, the value of the acceleration is positive, while if it is a vertical ascent, this value becomes negative, since it constitutes a decelerated movement.

Vertical ascent is called vertical shot, and refers to the movement in which an object is thrown straight up.

Free fall in sports

As a free fall, a parachute jump mode is known, which consists of jumping from an aircraft in flight and delaying the opening of the parachute during the descent to land, so that a considerable part of the route is carried out without any type of lift. In this sense, it is an extreme sport, as it is highly risky.