Gravity, often referred to as the force that attracts two bodies toward each other, is commonly expressed in units of acceleration. In the context of Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 32.2 feet per second squared (ft/s²).
This means that for every second an object is in free fall, its velocity increases by about 32.2 feet per second, assuming there’s no air resistance. For example, if you drop an object from a height, after one second, it would be traveling at about 32.2 feet per second downward. After two seconds, its speed would increase to about 64.4 feet per second, and so on.
This standard value provides a basis for understanding how gravity affects motion on Earth, and it is crucial in fields ranging from physics to engineering.