During free fall near Earth's surface, what happens to kinetic energy?

• A. Decreases
• B. Increases
• C. Stays the same
• D. Becomes zero

Answer: (B)

Gravity does positive work on the mass as it falls, converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. As you drop, your speed increases due to the constant downward acceleration g, and kinetic energy, which is 1/2 m v^2, grows with the increasing velocity. If air resistance is neglected, the total mechanical energy stays the same, so the decrease in potential energy m g h exactly matches the increase in kinetic energy. That’s why kinetic energy rises during free fall near Earth’s surface. If drag is present, some energy goes into heat, but the kinetic energy still tends to increase until drag balances the pull.