What happens to the vertical speed of an object in free fall?

In free fall, the only force acting on a falling object (neglecting air resistance) is gravity. The acceleration due to gravity near the surface of the Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s², directed downward. This means that for every second an object is in free fall, its velocity increases by about 9.8 m/s.

As the object continues to fall, it accumulates speed steadily as it accelerates downward. Initially, it may start from rest (with a speed of 0 m/s) and upon falling for a second, its speed would be approximately 9.8 m/s. After two seconds, its speed would be around 19.6 m/s, and so forth. This consistent increase in speed is a direct result of the constant acceleration caused by gravity.

Therefore, the correct answer indicates that the vertical speed of an object in free fall increases steadily due to the influence of gravitational acceleration, making it a fundamental principle of classical mechanics.