What happens to the acceleration of an object as it falls freely?

When an object falls freely under the influence of gravity alone, its acceleration remains constant at approximately 9.81 meters per second squared, assuming we are near the surface of the Earth. This value represents the acceleration due to gravity and means that for every second the object is in free fall, its velocity increases by about 9.81 m/s.

This constant acceleration occurs because the only significant force acting on the object in free fall is the gravitational force, which does not change with time or with the velocity of the object (in the absence of air resistance). In a vacuum, where there is no air resistance, this concept holds true very clearly. Therefore, the correct understanding is that the object's acceleration does not change as it falls freely, leading to the conclusion that it remains constant throughout the fall.

The other options imply changes to the acceleration, which do not accurately reflect the behavior of a freely falling object in a vacuum. For instance, air resistance can affect the fall of an object, but in a situation specifically referring to "free fall," we focus on the constant gravitational acceleration.