Law of odd numbers galileo biography

Mechanical law describing falling objects

In classical mechanics and kinematics, Galileo's law of odd numbers states that the distance covered by a falling object in successive equal time intervals is linearly proportional to the odd numbers.

That is, if a body falling from rest covers a certain distance during an arbitrary time interval, it will cover 3, 5, 7, etc. times that distance in the subsequent time intervals of the same length.

Law of odd numbers galileo biography

This mathematical model is accurate if the body is not subject to any forces besides uniform gravity (for example, it is falling in a vacuum in a uniform gravitational field). This law was established by Galileo Galilei who was the first to make quantitative studies of free fall.

Explanation

Using a speed-time graph

The graph in the figure is a plot of speed versus time. Distance covered is the area under the line. Each time interval is coloured differently.

The distance covered in the second and subseque