Lesson No.

3: UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED MOTION ( CONSTANT

ACCELERATION )
I. Free Falling Bodies, Air Resistance Neglected
A. A freely Falling Bodies (Free Fall):
It is a type of motion with constant acceleration due to influence of the earth’s gravitational attraction.
Note:
1. Objects thrown upward or downward and those released from rest are all falling freely once they are released.
2. Any freely falling object experience acceleration directed downward, regardless of its initial motion.
B. Aristotle’s Law of Accelerated Motion:
In the 4th Century B.C., Aristotle though erroneously that heavy objects fall faster than light objects, in
proportion of their weight.
Illustration:
Light Heavy Objects
Objects

C. Galileo’s Law of Accelerated Motion:

All bodies initially having the same height would fall to the earth’s surface at the same rate.
Illustration:
Tower

Light Heavy Objects

Objects

h1 h2

V1 V2

C.1 Assumptions for the Application of Galileo’s Law

1. Air resistance is neglected.
2. The effect of earth’s rotation can be neglected.
3. The height of fall is very less than the earth’s radius.
Illustration:

feather
coin coin feather

Tube with air Vacuum Tube

D. Gravitation Acceleration
It is the constant acceleration of a falling or rising object. It is always vertically downward.
g = a = acceleration due to the gravity
g = a = 9.81 m/s2 = 980.66 cm/s2 = 32.2 ft/s2
g = a = (–) at sea level
g < 9.81 m/s2 at higher elevation
E. Formulas:
Equations of One – Dimension Vertical Motion:
I. Falling: When the object is dropped downward.
Case 1. Dropping (V0 = 0) Case 2. Throwing Down (V0 = Downward)
Illustration: Illustration:
+y +y
V0 = 0 V0 = given

y g=a=+ y g=a=+
h=s=+ ty ty
=
vf = + tf vf = ?
–y –y
II. Rising: When the object is thrown upward.
Illustration: Throwing up (V0, upward)
Case 1 +y Case 2 Case 3
vf = +
y2
V2 = –
h=s=+ a=g=–
V1 a=g=–
a=g=–
y1 s=+
s=–
V1 V2 = –
–y
V0 = given

Formulas: Equations: Note:

1. Vf = V2 = Vi + gt = V0 + gt 1. Y1 = Yi = 0, if the object starts at the origin.
2. Vave = Yf – Yi = (Vi – Vf) 2. Yf = Y2 = 0, if the object ends at the origin.
t 2 3. Vi = V1 = V0 = 0, if the object drops freely during falling.
= Yf – Yo = V0 – Vf 4. V2 = Vf = 0, when the object reached the maximum height
t 2 of flight.
3. Yf = Y2 = Yi + Vi t + ½ gt2
a = g = + if V0 = V1 = 0 or going down
= Yi + V0 t + ½ gt2 a = g = – if V0 = V1 directed upward
= ½ (V1 + V2) t V2 = + if in the same direction as V1
4. Vf 2 = V0 2 + 2g (Yf – Yi) s = vertical displacement from point 1 to point 2
= V0 2 + 2as s = + if in the same direction as V1
s = – if in the opposite direction as V1
V1 = always positive

Rectilinear Equations of Motion:

1. S = vt 5. S = V0t + ½ at2
V + V0 V - V0
2. V = 2
6. t = a

3. V = V0 + at 7. V2 = V02 + 2as
V t + V 0t V + V0
4. S = 2 = 2 t