SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT | S.Y.

2019 – 2020
PHYSICAL SCIENCE - MODULE NO. 2
Name: ______________________________________Gr.& Section: ______________Score: _____________
Teacher: ____________________________________Date: _________________________

I. TOPIC: Free Fall

II. OVERVIEW:
The most familiar example of motion with uniform acceleration is an object falling under the influence of
the earth’s gravitational attraction. Before the time of Galileo, it was believed that heavier objects fall faster than
light objects. However, Galileo found out from his experiments that all objects, regardless of their mass, would
fall with the same constant acceleration in the absence of air or other resistance.
This module aims to help students understand motion of falling objects. Moreover, this module also aims
to help them have a wider knowledge on kinematics. These will help them analyze and solve problems involving
free fall.

III. OBJECTIVES(S):
After Studying this module, you will be able to:
 Solve problems involving free fall.

IV. DISCUSSION:
Things fall because of Earth’s gravitational pull. The direction of a falling object is always towards the
center of the Earth. When a falling object is free of all restraints – no friction, with the air or otherwise – and falls
under the influence of gravity alone, the object is said to be in a state of free fall. The results of Galileo’s
experiments can be summarized as follows:
At a given location on Earth and in the absence of air resistance, all objects fall
with the same constant acceleration.
This acceleration is due to gravity at the center of the Earth and is denoted by g. Its magnitude is
approximately 9.8m/s2. It is important to know that an object experiencing free fall gains a speed of 10m/s during
each second of its fall. However, the object falls a distance of 5m only during the first second of its fall. We may
think that the object should fall a distance of 10m, but for that to happen, its average speed must be 10m/s the
entire second. The objects initial velocity is 0m/s and only becomes 10m/s in the last instant of the 1s interval.
Therefore, its average speed is 5m/s which gives a distance of 5m over a 1s time interval. As the object continues
to fall, it will fall through ever-increasing distances because its speed is continuously increasing.
The acceleration due to gravity actually varies according to latitude and elevation in the Earth’s surface.
However, these are very small and can be ignored as well as the effects of air resistance for most purposes. When
dealing with freely falling objects, the kinematic equations followed by objects under constant acceleration is
followed. We use g instead of a, and y coordinates instead of x coordinates.
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡  𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡

𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎(𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 )  𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )
1 1
𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2  𝑣 = 𝑣𝑖 + 2 𝑔𝑡
𝑣𝑖 +𝑣𝑓 𝑣𝑖 +𝑣𝑓
𝑥𝑓 − 𝑥𝑖 = ( )𝑡  𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 = ( )𝑡
2 2

© UPHSD-LP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT S.Y. 2019 – 2020 1|P a ge

 We usually take yi=0 unless otherwise specified. It is arbitrary whether we choose y to be positive in the
upward direction or in the downward direction, but we must be very consistent throughout our solution. If you
take the positive direction to be upward, g is negative (downward) and equal to -g.

 Example:
1. A one-euro coin is dropped from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and fall freely from rest. What are its position
after 1.0s, 2.0s and 3.0s?
Solution: The initial velocity is 0 since the coin fall freely from rest. If we place the origin at the
point where the coin was dropped, yi=0.
1
𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2
1 𝑚
𝑦𝑓 − 0 = (0)𝑡 + (−9.8 2 ) 𝑡 2
2 𝑠
𝑚 2
𝑦𝑓 = (−4.9 2 ) 𝑡
𝑠
After 1s,
𝑚
𝑦𝑓 = (−4.9 2 ) (1𝑠)2
𝑠
𝑦𝑓 = −4.9𝑚
The negative sign on our answer indicates that the ball’s position is 4.9m below the place where the
ball was dropped.
After 2s,
𝑚
𝑦𝑓 = (−4.9 2 ) (2𝑠)2
𝑠
𝑦𝑓 = −19.6𝑚
Again, a negative number indicating that the ball’s position is 19.6m below the place where the ball
was dropped.
After 3s,
𝑚
𝑦𝑓 = (−4.9 2 ) (3𝑠)2
𝑠
𝑦𝑓 = −44.1𝑚
The ball’s position is 44.1m below the place where the ball was dropped.

Objects thrown upward also experience motion of falling objects. Suppose a ball was thrown upward, as
it travels that way, its velocity decreases and so g becomes negative.

 Example:
2. A person throws a ball upward into the air with an initial velocity of 15.0m/s. Calculate how high it
goes. Ignore air resistance.
Solution: The ball will reach its highest position when its velocity becomes 0, v f=0. If we let the
origin be the position of the thrower’s hand, then the initial position of the ball, yi, is 0. Remember
also that the ball experiences deceleration as it goes up so g=-9.8m/s2.
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )
𝑚 2 𝑚
02 = (15 ) + 2 (−9.8 2 ) (𝑦𝑓 − 0)
𝑠 𝑠
2
𝑚 𝑚
0 = 225 2 − (19.6 2 ) 𝑦𝑓
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚2
(19.6 2 ) 𝑦𝑓 = 225 2
𝑠 𝑠
2
𝑚
225 2
𝑦𝑓 = 𝑠
𝑚
19.6 2
𝑠
𝑦𝑓 = 11.47𝑚

© UPHSD-LP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT S.Y. 2019 – 2020 2|P a ge

 3. In Example 2, how long did the ball take to reach its highest position?
Solution: Again, the ball’s velocity becomes 0 the moment it reaches its highest position, so vf=0.
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚 𝑚
0 = 15 + (−9.8 2 ) 𝑡
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
(9.8 2 ) 𝑡 = 15
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
(9.8 2 ) 𝑡 15
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 = 𝑚
9.8 2 9.8 2
𝑠 𝑠
𝑡 = 1.53𝑠
The time it will take the ball to reach its highest position can also be calculated if we know its
highest position. In Example 1, we were able to solve for yf, the highest position of the ball.
1
𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2
𝑚 1 𝑚
11.47𝑚 − 0 = (15 ) 𝑡 + (−9.8 2 ) 𝑡 2
𝑠 2 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 2
11.47𝑚 = (15 ) 𝑡 + (−4.9 2 ) 𝑡
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 2 𝑚
0 = (−4.9 2 ) 𝑡 + (15 ) 𝑡 − 11.47𝑚
𝑠 𝑠
Notice that this equation is of the form ax +bx+c, where a=-4.9m/s2, b=15m/s and c=-11.47m. To
2

solve for the value of t, we will use

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑡=
2𝑎
𝑚 𝑚 2 𝑚
−15 𝑠 ± √(15 𝑠 ) − 4 (−4.9 2 ) (−11.47𝑚)
2
𝑡= 𝑚
2 (−4.9 2 )
𝑠
𝑚 𝑚2 𝑚2
−15 𝑠 ± √225 2 − 224.81 2
𝑠 𝑠
𝑡= 𝑚
−9.8 2
𝑠
Since the value inside the square root is almost equal to 0, we can neglect its effect.
𝑚
−15 𝑠
𝑡= 𝑚
−9.8 2
𝑠
𝑡 = 1.53𝑠
This value is the same as the value we got using the equation vf=vi+gt.

4. Again, in Example 2, calculate (a) how much time it takes for the ball to return to the thrower’s hand,
and (b) its velocity by that time.
Solution: There are two approaches to answer (a). The initial and final positions of the ball is just
the same. The first approach is as follows.
1
𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2
𝑚 1 𝑚
0 − 0 = (15 ) 𝑡 + (−9.8 2 ) 𝑡 2
𝑠 2 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
0 = (15 ) 𝑡 + (−4.9 2 ) 𝑡 2
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
0 = (15 ) 𝑡 + (−4.9 2 ) 𝑡 2
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
0 = 𝑡 (15 − 4.9 2 𝑡)
𝑠 𝑠

© UPHSD-LP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT S.Y. 2019 – 2020 3|P a ge

 There are two solutions to this equation. The first solution is when t=0, that is the moment when the
ball was thrown. The second solution is shown below.
𝑚 𝑚
0 = 15 − 4.9 2 𝑡
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
−15 = −4.9 2 𝑡
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
4.9 2 𝑡 = 15
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
4.9 2 𝑡 15
𝑠 = 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
4.9 2 4.9 2
𝑠 𝑠
𝑡 = 3.06𝑠
The second approach is by multiplying the time it took for the ball to reach its highest position by 2.
Why? The time it takes for the ball to reach the maximum height is just the same as the time it will
take it to fall back to its starting position.
There are also four ways to solve for the ball’s velocity when it reaches the thrower’s hand. When
we consider only the part when the ball is already falling there are two ways. The initial velocity of
the ball when it falls is 0, the time it took the ball to reach the ground from its maximum height is
1.53s.
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 0 + (−9.8 2 ) (1.53𝑠)
𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = −15
𝑠
The negative sign indicates that the ball is travelling downward. We can also use the equation
vf2=vi2+2g(yf-yi). The initial position of the ball is its maximum height, 11.47m, and the final
position is 0.
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 2 = 02 + 2 (−9.8 2 ) (0 − 11.47𝑚)
𝑠
𝑚2
𝑣𝑓 2 = 224.81
𝑠2

𝑚2
√𝑣𝑓 2 = √224.81
𝑠2
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = ±15
𝑠
Our answer is either positive or negative but knowing that the ball is travelling downward then our
answer is -15.0m/s.
When we consider the both the upward and downward motion of the ball the initial velocity we will
use is 15.0m/s, the velocity of the ball when it was thrown. The time is 3.06 s, the time it took the
ball to go up and fall back to the thrower’s hand.
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 15 + (−9.8 2 ) (3.06𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 15 − 30
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = −15
𝑠
The negative sign indicates that the ball is travelling downward. We can also use the equation
vf2=vi2+2g(yf-yi). The initial and final positions of the ball is just the same, 0.
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 )
© UPHSD-LP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT S.Y. 2019 – 2020 4|P a ge
 𝑚 2 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 2 = (15 ) + 2 (−9.8 2 ) (0 − 0)
𝑠 𝑠
2
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 2 = 225 2 + 0
𝑠
𝑚2
𝑣𝑓 2 = 225
𝑠2

𝑚2
√𝑣𝑓 2 = √225
𝑠2
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = ±15
𝑠
Again, our answer is either positive or negative but knowing that the ball is travelling downward
then our answer is -15.0m/s.

V. EVALUATION:

Direction: Answer the following problems. Show your solution. USE GUFSA FORMAT
1. A ball is thrown downward, from a building, with an initial velocity of 5.0m/s. What would be its
position and velocity after 3.0s, 6.0s and 9.0s?
2. A ball player threw a ball vertically upward and catches it after 4.0s.
a. What is the velocity of the ball when the player threw it?
b. What height did the ball reach?
3. A boy threw a stone vertically upward with a velocity of 22.0m/s.
a. What is its velocity when it reaches a height of 10.0m?
b. How long did it take the stone to reach that height?
4. A brick is dropped from the roof of a building and reaches the ground with a velocity of 75m/s.
a. How high is the building?
b. How long did it take the ball to reach strike the ground?
5. You and your friend lives in the same building but your room is a few floors higher than theirs. You
threw a ball downward and falls past their window after 2.0s with a velocity of 30.0m/s.
a. What is the distance between your room and you friend’s room?
b. What is the velocity of the ball when you threw it?
6. What is the velocity of a ball that has been dropped off a cliff after 1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5 seconds?
7. What is the distance a ball falls after 1,2,3,4,5 seconds?
References:
Alumaga, Marie Jessica B., et al, (2016). Physical Science. Vibal Group Inc.
Crisostomo, Ricardo M., (2003). Practical and Explorational Physics. Vibal Publishing House Inc.
Hewitt, Paul G., (2015). Conceptual Physics 12th edition. Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Giancoli, Douglas D., (2014). Physics Principles with Applications 7th Edition. Pearson Addison-Wesley
Young, Hugh D., (2012). University Physics 13th edition. Pearson Addison-Wesley.
http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/ns540_fall10_notes01/EP_ch02_2dash1to2dash4.pdf

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