Lecture 6

Freely Falling Objects

Instructor:
Dr. Loai Afana
Physical and Biomedical Devices and Systems
2012/2013

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 Freely Falling Objects
Near the earth’s surface, the acceleration due to gravity g is constant:
g = aEarth’s surface = 9.81 m/s2 toward the center of the earth

A freely falling object:

•is an object that moves under the influence of gravity only.
(Neglecting air resistance.)
•An object is in free fall as soon as it is released,
whether it is dropped from rest, thrown downward, or thrown upward

Question:
What about the mass of an object?
Answer:
The acceleration of gravity is the same for all objects
near the surface of the Earth, regardless of mass.

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 Free.Fall - an Object Dropped

Initial velocity is zero (v0=0)
y

Frame: let up be positive

Use the kinematic equations

Generally use y instead of x since
x
vertical
vo= 0
v = v o + at (1)
a=g
x =x0 + v0t + ½ at 2 (3)

1 2 use y instead of x
(3)  ∆y = at
2
a = − 9. 8 m s 2 Up Y the positive
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 Free. Fall - an Object Thrown Downward
With upward (Y) being positive : acceleration will be negative,

a= g = -9.8 m/s²
-Initial velocity V ≠ 0
0

initial velocity will be negative!!

With downward (Y): acceleration will be positive,

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 Free.Fall - object thrown upward

Initial velocity is upward, so
positive (V  +)
0

v=0

The instantaneous velocity (V=0)
at the maximum height is zero
(because object stoped)

a = g everywhere in the motion

(g) is always downward, negative
g = -9.8 m/s²

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 Thrown upward

The motion may be symmetrical
- then tup = tdown
- then vf = -vo

The motion may be not symmetrical
- Break the motion into various parts
- generally up and down

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 Non-symmetrical
Free Fall

Need to divide the
motion into segments
Possibilities include:

Upward and downward
portions

The symmetrical portion
back to the release point
and then the non-
symmetrical portion

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 Graphical example: A ball is thrown upward
from the ground level.

a b
a b

a b

x = ball’s height velocity is positive

above the ground when the ball is
moving upward

Why is acceleration negative?

Example:
[22] A ball is thrown directly downward, with an initial speed of 8.00 m/s, from
a height of 30.0 m. After what time does the ball strike the ground?

Solution :

1 2
y = y0 + ν 0t − gt (3)
2
1
0 = 30 + ( −8 × t ) − × 9.8 × t 2 ⇒
2
8 ± 64 + 588
t= = 1.97 s
− 9 .8

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Example:
A stone is dropped from rest (v =0) from the top of a building, as shown
0

in Figure. After 3s of free fall, what is the displacement(y) of the stone?

Solution:
We must chose the reference axis only at the top of the building

From x =x0 + v0t + ½ at 2 (3)

1 2
y = y 0 +ν0t + gt
2

y = 0 + 0.t + ½ (- 9.8) (3)2 = - 44.1m

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Example:
A stone is dropped downward from a height 80m,
After 1s another stone is thrown vertically downward,
If the two stones reached the ground at the same time,
find the initial velocity of the second stone. 80m

Solution:
Stone (1): Stone (2):
Vo= 0, y = 80m , t1 = ?? Vo= ??, y = 80m , t2 = t1-1s

1 2
y = y0 + ν 0t − gt
2
1
80 = 0 + 0 + × 10 × t 2 ⇒ 1 2
2 y = y0 + ν 0 t − gt
2
t 1 = 4s ⇒ t 2 = 3s
1
80 = 0 + vo .(3) + × 10 × (3) 2 ⇒
2
v 0 = 11 .7 m / s

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