7/2/2015

• The common exam ples of linear motion with

constant acceleration is that of an object
allowed to fall or rise freely falling near the
Earth’s surface called free falling objects.

GRAVITATIONAL • The m agnitude of freely falling object (air

resistance is neglected) varies for any

ACCELERATION location but can be approxim ated as

constant near the earth’s surface.

• The acceleration is called acceleration due FOUR EQUATIONS

to gravity and denoted by g.
𝑚 𝑐𝑚 𝑓𝑡 𝐿𝑀𝐶𝐴 𝑎 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎 = −𝑔
𝑎 = 𝑔 = 9.8 = 980 2 = 32 2
𝑠2 𝑠 𝑠
𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 + 𝑎𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑛 1 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑜 − 𝑔𝑡
• It is directed toward the earth’s surface.
1 1
• When dealing w ith free falling objects, the 𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 𝐸𝑞𝑛 2 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2 2
equation for m otion w ith constant
acceleration may be applied, but w e
𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑜2 𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑜2
substitute a by –g. 𝑥= 𝐸𝑞𝑛 3 𝑦=
2𝑎 −2𝑔
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑜 𝐸𝑞𝑛 4 𝑣 + 𝑣𝑜
𝑥= 𝑡 𝑦= 𝑡
2 2

FREE FALL EXAMPLE 1

A steel ball dropped from a tower strikes the
• An object that is drooped ground in 3.0 s. Find:
• v o is 0 at later time
(a) the velocity with w hich the ball strikes the
v is a nonzero
ground.
• An object that is thrown (b) the height of the tower.
upward
• v o is a nonzero at later
time v is 0

• An object that is thrown y =?

downward
• v o and v are nonzero
v =?

1
 7/2/2015

EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 2
A ball is thrown vertically up from the
edge of a 98 m building and falls to the 2.0 m
ground 6.0 s after leaving thrower’s hand.
Assume that the thrower’s hand is 2.0 m
above the roof of the building. Find: (a) the
initial velocity of the ball, (b) the time to
reach the maximum height, (c) the 98 m

maximum height, (d) the velocity of the

t =6.0 s
ball when it strikes the ground and (e) the
position and velocity of the ball 1.0 s after
leaving the thrower’s hand.

EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4
A rock thrown downward into a well with A construction worker
an initial downward speed of 3.0 m/s. The ascending at 6.0 m/s in
rock hits bottom 1.8 s later. (a) How deep an open elevator 42 m
is the well? (b) What is the rock’s speed above the ground vo =6.0 m/s
as it hits the bottom? accidentally drops a
hammer. Calculate: (a)
the time needed for the
hammer to reach the 42 m
vo = 3.0 m/s
ground and (b) its
velocity just before
touching the ground.

ground