Free fall with constant acceleration

Upward Motion
1
𝑣 = 𝑣Additional
0 − 𝑔𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑦0problems
+ 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 , from𝑣 2freefall
− 𝑣0 2 = −2𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦0 )
2
Downward Motion
1
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑔𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2 , 𝑣 2 − 𝑣0 2 = 2𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦0 )
2
Question 1

A baseball is hit directly upward with an initial speed of 45 m/s. (a) Find the velocity of the
ball when it is at a height of 40 m. (b) Is there one correct answer for v or two? Explain why.

Solution

Recognize the physical principle

Since the acceleration is constant, we can apply the equations of motion for a constant
acceleration due to gravity.
Identify the relationships
After the baseball is hit, the only force on it is the force of gravity, so the acceleration will be
𝑎 = −𝑔, taking the upward direction to be the positive y direction.
From the problem we know the initial speed (v0 = 45 m/s), the final height (not the
maximum in this case) y = 40 m, and the initial height y0 = 0. We can calculate the speed
using
v 2  v 02  2a(y  y 0 )
Solve.
With y0 = 0 and a = −g,
2 2
v = v 0 − 2gy

v  v 02  2 gy

Inserting the values into this equation we have,

v  (45 m/ s)2  2(9.8 m/ s 2 )(40 m)   35 m/ s

v  35 m/ s in the positive vertical direction

Copyright2017, Department of Physics, KCST

1
(b) Since the solution for velocity involves a square root we do get two answers. We
choose the positive answer because the ball was hit “directly upwards.” The negative value
also has physical meaning, representing the velocity of the ball at a height of 40 m but
after the ball has been to the maximum height of the trajectory and is on its way back
down.

Question 2

A squirrel is resting in a tall tree when it slips from a branch that is 50 m above the ground.
It is a very agile squirrel and manages to land safely on another branch after only 0.50 s.
What is the height of the branch it lands on?

Solution:

Recognize the physical principle

Since the acceleration is constant, we can apply the equations of motion for a constant
acceleration due to gravity.
Identify the relationships. Once the squirrel slips from the initial branch of height
𝑦0 = 50 𝑚, it will be in free fall until it reaches the second branch of height y. When it fell
from the branch it had an initial velocity 𝑣0 = 0, and the only force on the squirrel during
free fall is the force of gravity. We take the upward height as positive and the squirrel falls
from 𝑦0 = 50 𝑚, hence we take a=-g. Since we know the time of free fall, we can use
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2
to calculate the height of the second branch.
Solve.
Starting with
1
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2
we insert values
1
𝑦 = (50 𝑚) + 0 − (9.8)(0.5)2 = 49 𝑚
2

Thus the vertical fall is 𝑦0 − 𝑦 = 50 − 49 = 1 𝑚. The squirrel only fell about 1 m before
landing on a lower branch.

Question 3

Basketball on the Moon: If Ali can jump 1.5 m high on Earth, how high could he jump on the
Moon (assume an indoor court), where 𝑔 = 1.6 𝑚/𝑠 2

Copyright2017, Department of Physics, KCST