The force directed downward on an object near Earth's surface is called gravity.

The force directed downward on an object near Earth's surface is called gravity.

• A. Air resistance
• B. Friction
• C. Gravity
• D. Normal force

Answer: (C)

Gravity is the downward pull the Earth exerts on objects near its surface, what we call weight. It points toward the Earth's center, and its magnitude is m times g (about 9.8 m/s^2 on the surface). This is the force described as directed downward. Other forces don’t match this downward direction in general: air resistance acts opposite the motion through the air (often upward when falling), friction acts parallel to a surface to oppose sliding, and the normal force acts perpendicular to the surface, pushing upward. So the force described by “downward on an object near Earth's surface” is gravity.

Gravity is the downward pull the Earth exerts on objects near its surface, what we call weight. It points toward the Earth's center, and its magnitude is m times g (about 9.8 m/s^2 on the surface). This is the force described as directed downward. Other forces don’t match this downward direction in general: air resistance acts opposite the motion through the air (often upward when falling), friction acts parallel to a surface to oppose sliding, and the normal force acts perpendicular to the surface, pushing upward. So the force described by “downward on an object near Earth's surface” is gravity.