Free Fall Velocity Calculator
Find the impact velocity of an object dropped from rest after a given fall time or drop height, ignoring air resistance.
How it works
from height: v = √(2·g·h) · from time: v = g·t · h = ½·g·t²
An object released from rest speeds up by g each second, so its velocity grows linearly with time and with the square root of the distance fallen. Mass does not appear anywhere — in the absence of air resistance a feather and a hammer hit the ground at the same speed. Velocity here is the magnitude of the downward speed at impact.
Worked example
Dropped from 20 m with g = 9.81: v = √(2 × 9.81 × 20) = √392.4 ≈ 19.8 m/s, or about 71 km/h, reached after roughly 2.0 s of falling.
Sources: Free fall — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
Does a heavier object fall faster?
Not in free fall. Ignoring air resistance, all objects accelerate at the same g and reach the same speed from the same height regardless of mass. Air resistance is what makes a feather drift down slowly in real air.
What is terminal velocity?
It is the steady speed a real falling object reaches when air resistance balances gravity, so it stops accelerating. This calculator ignores drag, so its speeds keep growing and exceed terminal velocity for long falls.
Why does km/h appear?
The SI result is metres per second; multiplying by 3.6 converts it to kilometres per hour, which is easier to picture for everyday drops and falling objects.
Related calculators
Educational estimate. Check the formula and units for your exact case.