Explanation

The distance traveled by a free-falling object can be calculated using the equation:

s = (1/2)gt²

where s is the distance, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²), and t is the time.

Given t = 5 seconds:

s = (1/2) × 9.8 × 5²

s = (1/2) × 9.8 × 25

s = 122.5 m