Section 4.6 Vertical Motion Under Gravity

Section 4.
Vertical motion under

gravity
• Vertical motion in one direction
• Vertical motion with a change
in direction
• Effect of air resistance on
falling objects under gravity
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 1
4.6 Vertical motion under gravity (SB p. 37)
Vertical motion under gravity

A ball is released at h,
it falls vertically
velocity increases
accelerates
freely Due to …
h attraction of the earth

⇒ acceleration due to gravity (g)
Attraction from earth

Vertical motion in one direction
Expt 4F
Acceleration
due to gravity
ticket-tape
timer
mass hanger
with slotted
weights


The time taken for
v each 2 - tick length
straight line – = 0.02 × 2
uniform = 0.04 s
acceleration
0.7
Initial velocity (u ) =
0.04
= 17.5 cm s−1
17.5
u Final velocity (v ) =
0.04
= 437.5 cm s−1

Time interval (t ) = (12 - 1) x 0.04

= 0.44 s
Acceleration due to gravity (g ) = v − u
t
= 437.5 − 17.5
0.44
= 955 cm s−2
= 9.55 m s−2
experimental result < accepted value of a
(9.81 m s−2)
Experimental error
• friction between the tape

and timer
• air resistance on the weight
g
• accepted value of g : 9.81 m s−2
h • For easy calculation
→ take g = 10 m s−2

Data-logging set-up
Expt. 4E
picket Acceleration
due to gravity
fence (data-logging)
photogate
Fig. 4.29(b) p. 39
interface
v-t graph of picket fence

Example 9:
A ball is released at a height of 20 m above the ground.

Take g = 10 m s−1. Find
(a) the time for the ball to reach the ground, and
Solut
Take the downward direction as positive,
ion
Given that a = g = 10 m s−2, s = 20 m, u = 0 m s−1
1 2
By s = ut + at
2 1
20 = (0 × t) + (10) t2
2
t = +2 or −2 (rejected)
∴ t =2s
The time for the ball to reach the ground is 2 s.
Example 9: (Cont)
(b) Find the velocity of the ball just before it reaches the
Solut
ground. ion
By v2 = u2 + 2as
v2 = 0 + 2 × 10 × 20
v = +20 or −20 (rejected)
∴ v = 20 m s−1
The velocity of the ball just before it reaches
the ground is 20 m s−1 (downward).

Class Practice 11:
Reaction time is the time for a person to notice, think,

and act in response to a situation. For example, the time
between first observing and then responding to an
obstruction on the road ahead while you are driving a
car. Reaction time varies among people.
A person’s reaction time can be
measured as shown in Fig. (a) and
Fig. (b). The girl drops a ruler
(without warning) just above the
boy’s hand. The boy grasps the
falling ruler as quick as possible,
and the length of the ruler below his
thumb is recorded.
Class Practice 11 (Cont):
If the ruler descends 12 cm before it is caught, what is the boy’s

reaction time?
1
s = ut + at2
1 2
0.12=
2 (10)(t) 2
t2 = 0.024
0 cm
t = 0.15 s
12 cm
Fig. (a) Fig. (b) Ans

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. wer 11
Vertical motion with a change in direction

A ball is thrown upwards
B • AB – moves up with
decreasing speed
• B – momentarily at rest
• BC – falls with increasing
C A
speed

Vertical motion with a change in direction
downward direction: (+) CAL

B
Workshop 3
Motion under
gravity
C A

Example 10:
A ball is thrown vertically upwards at a velocity of 25 m s−1.

Find (a) its velocity after (i) 2 s and (ii) 3 s, and Solut
Take the downward direction as positive, ion
we have a = g = 10 m s−2, u = −25 m s−1
(i) By v = u + at
= (−25) + 10 × 2
∴ v = −5 m s−1 Fig. (a)
After 2 s, the ball moves upwards at a velocity of 5 m s−1.
(ii) By v = u + at
= (−25) + 10 × 3
∴ v = 5 m s−1
After 3 s, the ball moves downwards at a velocity of 5 m s−1.
The result is shown in Fig. (a).
Example 10: (Cont)
(b) Find the time for it to return to its starting point.

Solut
When the ball returns to its starting point,
ion
displacement (s) = 0 m.
1 2
By s = ut + at
2
1
0 = (−25) × t + × 10 × t 2
2
5t2 −25 t = 0
t = 5 s or t = 0 s (rejected)
∴ t=5s Fig. (b)
The time for the ball to return to its starting point is 5 s.

Class Practice 12:

A ball is thrown vertically upwards at an initial velocity of 100 m
s−1.
(a) Complete the following table (take the downward direction
as positive). Note that t is the time elapsed, s is the
displacement of the ball, and v is the velocity of the ball.
t/s 2 8 10 15 20
s/m −180 −480 −500 −375 0

v / m s−1 −80 −20 0 50 100
Direction of
motion upwards upwards at rest downwardsdownwards
Ans
wer
Class Practice 12 (Cont):
(b) Sketch the positions of the ball at t = 2 s, 8 s, 10 s,

15 s and 20 s in the figure. Use a scale of 1 cm to
represent 100 m in height.
Ans
wer
Effect of air resistance on falling

objects under gravity
What is the effect of the mass
on the falling process
It depends on the presence of air

resistance
Go to
Discussion 1
The “coin and feather” experiment
Expt. 4G
The “coin and
feather”
coin experiment
feather
Case (i) in vacuum

Case (ii) in air


(i) in vacuum (ii) in air
They fall at same Coin falls with a

rate, speed faster speed at
the same time
(same (different
acceleration) acceleration)
• coin is heavier, the effect of air resistance is

less significant
gravitational force
air resistance
in vacuum in air

Effect of air resistance on falling

objects under gravity
In the absence of air resistance
same acceleration
(a = g)
in vacuum
Useful Website
Physics Zone: Lessons on Motion

(http://www.sciencejoywagon.com
/physicszone/lesson/01motion.htm)
Animations of Physical Processes
(http://www.infoline.ru
/g23/5495/Physics/English/mech.htm)
Simple Animation for Physics
(http://phys23p.sl.psu.edu/~mrg3/agif)

Mind Map how far from a point?

distance
Describing the change
in position
how far from a point? displacement
how long does it take? In what direction?
time
distance travelled
per unit time speed
Describing motion
displacement
per unit time velocity
constant changing
Position and velocity velocity
movement 4.3 Uniform motion 4.4 Acceleration
constant
acceleration
4.5 Equations of
4.6 Vertical motion
uniformly accelerated
under gravity
motion
scalar has magnitude

Describing direction
has both magnitude
vector and direction
THE
THE END
END

Discussion 1:
The Greek philosopher, Aristotle thought

that when a large steel ball and a small
steel ball were released at the same
height above the ground, the large one
would reach the ground before the small
one because it falls faster. Is his idea
true? It is said that Galileo verified this
by dropping a heavy ball and a light ball
from the top of the Leaning Tower of
Return to
Pisa at the same time. Do you know the
result? Galileo discovered that the two Text
balls reached the ground almost
at the same time. Therefore, he
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. doubted the idea of Aristotle. 26

Section 4.6 Vertical Motion Under Gravity

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Section 4.6 Vertical Motion Under Gravity

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Section 4.

Vertical motion under

Vertical motion under gravity

h attraction of the earth

Attraction from earth

Vertical motion in one direction

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 3

Vertical motion in one direction

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 4

Vertical motion in one direction

Time interval (t ) = (12 - 1) x 0.04

• friction between the tape

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 6

v-t graph of picket fence

A ball is released at a height of 20 m above the ground.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 9

Class Practice 11:

Reaction time is the time for a person to notice, think,

Class Practice 11 (Cont):

If the ruler descends 12 cm before it is caught, what is the boy’s

Fig. (a) Fig. (b) Ans

Vertical motion with a change in direction

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 12

Vertical motion with a change in direction

downward direction: (+) CAL

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 13

A ball is thrown vertically upwards at a velocity of 25 m s−1.

Example 10: (Cont)

(b) Find the time for it to return to its starting point.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 15

Class Practice 12:

s/m −180 −480 −500 −375 0

Class Practice 12 (Cont):

(b) Sketch the positions of the ball at t = 2 s, 8 s, 10 s,

Effect of air resistance on falling

It depends on the presence of air

The “coin and feather” experiment

Case (i) in vacuum

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 19

The “coin and feather” experiment

They fall at same Coin falls with a

The “coin and feather” experiment

• coin is heavier, the effect of air resistance is

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 21

Effect of air resistance on falling

In the absence of air resistance

Physics Zone: Lessons on Motion

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 23

Mind Map how far from a point?

scalar has magnitude

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 25

The Greek philosopher, Aristotle thought

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