It is important to point out that 9.8m/s2 down is NOT gravity, it is the acceleration DUE TO GRAVITY. Gravity is a force of attraction. 9.8m/s2 down is the acceleration caused when that force is the only force acting on the object. The direction down is often traded for a negative sign and instead of the symbol "a" we use "g" to represent the acceleration due to gravity.
agravity = g = 9.8m/s2 down =
-9.8 m/s2 ![]()
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