What is the only downward force acting on a free-falling object?

In the context of a free-falling object, the only downward force acting on it is the force of gravity. This force is a fundamental interaction that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth (or any massive body). Gravity is responsible for giving weight to objects and is always directed downward, towards the center of the Earth.

When an object is in free fall, it experiences acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface. This means that the object will continue to accelerate downward until it meets the ground or another surface.

The other forces mentioned, such as friction, inertia, and centripetal force, do not apply to free-falling objects in the same context. Friction is a force that opposes motion and is not present in free fall as there are no surfaces for it to act upon. Inertia is a property of matter that describes an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion, but it is not a force itself. Centripetal force acts on objects moving in a circular path, which is not applicable to the scenario of free fall. Thus, the force of gravity is the sole downward force acting on the object in this situation.