The cosmological constant regained the attention of the scientific community following the recent
discovery of the accelerated expansion of the Universe. Consequently, interest in the subject
increased amongst the public such that it now often appears in the classroom and popular science
publications. The purpose of this article is to use basic concepts of Newtonian mechanics, like
dynamics, kinetic energy and potential energy diagrams, in a scenario where the cosmological
constant?s action, considered as being an inertial force driven by the accelerated expansion of the
Universe, could counteract Earth?s gravity. The effect that the cosmological constant might have
near the Earth?s surface is discussed showing how everyday life would change. This is done in such a
way that makes it accessible to students in their first year of college. Finally, the modern
interpretation of the cosmological constant, associated with the existence of dark energy, is
briefly discussed along with u…