Free Falling and Projectile Motion

I. Dimensional –
A- Falling bodies: Conditions for Free Fall:

h  

𝑓𝑡
1. Acceleration is gravity = 9.8 𝑚 𝑠 ! on 32 𝑠!

2. Mass does not affect rate at which they fall.

3. If h is small when compared to radius of the earth, 6.38×10! 𝑚  you can
ignore air resistance.
4. If above 3 conditions are met, then you satisfy conditions for free-fall.
a) This includes rising and falling motion
b) Because acceleration is gravity it is constant , you can use equations of use
constant acceleration (𝑎! = −𝑔)
5. Make origin where the object is launched.
6. 𝑣! = 0   at peak of launch.

B. Because Acceleration is Constant, g, then the equations for constant acceleration

apply!
a) Y-dimension:
! !
1. Distance = initial velocity(time) + !acceleration 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

1
∆𝑦 = 𝑣!" 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 !
2
2.    𝑣 !!! = 𝑣 ! !! + 2𝑎(∆𝑦); ∆𝑦 = 𝑌!"#$% − 𝑌!"!#!$%
3. 𝑣! = 𝑣!! − 𝑔𝑡
!!! !!!
4. ∆𝑦 = !
𝑡.
II. 2-dimensional: X & Y Components:

1. Projectile motion is due motion of any object launched at an angle

a) maximum angle is 45° for max distance
b) 𝑎! = 0, 𝑣! = 0 at peak
c) Trajectory is the name given to the path the launched object takes

𝜃  

2. All 4 equations above have x counterparts:

1
∆𝑥 = 𝑣!" 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥𝑡 !
2
𝑣 !!" = 𝑣 ! !" + 2𝑎𝑥
𝑣! = 𝑣!" + 𝑎𝑡
𝑣!" + 𝑣!
∆𝑥 = 𝑡
2
*𝑎! = 0 in all projectile motion

3. When there is an x component, a 𝜃 results, and the constant acceleration equations

change a bit:

!!" !!"
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = !!
, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = !!
𝑣! 𝑣!"

𝜃 𝑣! 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑣!" , 𝑣! 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑣!"

𝑣!"

*everywhere you see  𝑣!"  and𝑣!" , replace with above components.

1. Equations became:
1
𝑥 = 𝑣! 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑡    𝑦 = 𝑣! 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 !
2
𝑣! = 𝑣! 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃      𝑣! = 𝑣! 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝑔𝑡
2. Optimal 𝜃 is 45° to get maximal distance.
3. 𝑎! = 0  , 𝑣! = 0  at peak of trajectory!