The primary force acting on a freely falling object is gravity. This force pulls objects toward the center of a mass, such as the Earth, causing them to accelerate downward at a rate of approximately 9.81 m/s². Gravity is a fundamental force in physics, influencing the motion of all objects and is crucial for understanding the principles of mechanics and kinematics. Factors such as air resistance can also affect the motion of falling objects, but gravity remains the dominant force during free fall.