Science Common Sense

1473 - How do objects move qualitatively in a gravitational field.

Imagine you're playing with a ball near a cliff. If you throw the ball forward, it will move in a straight line, but it will also start falling down because of the Earth's gravity.

Here's what happens qualitatively:

1. Acceleration: The ball starts accelerating downwards, which means it starts moving faster and faster towards the ground.
2. Curved path: The ball follows a curved path, called a parabola, because gravity is pulling it down while it's still moving forward.
3. Increased speed: The ball speeds up as it falls, which means it's moving faster and faster towards the ground.
4. Eventual fall: The ball eventually falls to the ground, and its speed increases until it hits the surface.

The same thing happens with all objects in a gravitational field. They accelerate, follow a curved path, and increase speed until they hit something.