Week 4 Activity: Vertical Motion and Projectile Motion

Name: _______________________________________________ Grade 12 STEM Sec. _______________

Vertical Motion of Objects

There is a saying that, “Everything that comes up must come down.”
It is easy to explain what make things move downward, but, what makes the
object moves upward seems to be misunderstood. Objects thrown upward
moves upward because of the initial velocity given to it and at the moment
the object was released upward, it starts to decelerate at the rate of 9.8 m / s 2.
The only reason why objects keep on moving upward is Inertia. Inertia is the
tendency of the object to maintain its state of motion. Objects move upward
but slow down because gravity prevents its motion.
Vertical motion is referred as the movement of the object against the
gravitational pull. It is the motion that is perpendicular to the straight or flat
surface.
Kinematic quantities of Objects in Vertical Motion
1. Acceleration
Object’s thrown upward decelerate at – 9.8 m/s 2. This
means , the object is slowing down as it moves upward.
2. Initial velocity (vi)
For objects to move upward, initial velocity is always necessary. Initial velocity is not equal to zero
(v ≠ 0)
3. Maximum height (dy)
This is the top most portion the moving object could reach. Since v f is zero (vf = 0), this could be
computed using where ag is the acceleration due to gravity equal to (-9.8 m / s 2 ).
4. Time (t)
This refers to the time it will take for the moving object to reach the maximum height. This could
be computed using

5. Time of flight (T)

This is twice of t if we are referring to the time it took the object to reach the maximum height
and back to the horizontal position where the object was thrown. Mathematically expressed as T = 2t.
NOTE: Equations used in this kind of motion is the same with equations used in free falling objects. The
only difference is the acceleration because its velocity decreases as it moves upward.

Sample Problem
1. A metal ball was thrown vertically upward from a horizontal with an initial velocity of
10 m / s.
a. What is the maximum height the metal ball could reach?
b. How long will it take for the ball to reach the maximum height?
c. What is the time of flight?
d. Using the time of flight, how fast is the ball just before it hits the ground?
e. How fast is the ball at 1.5 s? Was it moving upward or downward?
Solution:
a. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
2
Vi = 10 m/s dy = - (10 m / s) dy = 5.10 m
2 2
ag = -9.8 m/s 2( - 9.8 m/s )
Vf = 0 dy = -100 m2 / s2
- 19.6 m/s2
b. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
vi = 10 m/s t = _- 10 m/s_ t = 1.02 s
2 2
ag = -9.8 m/s - 9.8 m / s
vf = 0
c. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
t = 1.02 s T = 2t T = 2 (1.02 s) T = 2.04 s
d. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
2
vi = 10 m/s vf = vi + agt vf = 10 m / s + (-9.8 m/s )(2.04 s) vf = - 9.99 m/s
ag = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 10 m / s + (-19.99 m/s )
T = 2.04 s Answer: The ball is moving downward almost at the same velocity as it was
fired

e. Given Equation Solution Final Answer

2
vi = 10 m/s vf = vi + agt vf = 10 m / s + (-9.8 m/s )(1.5 s) vf = - 4.7 m/s
ag = -9.8 m/s2 vf = 10 m / s + (-14.7 m/s )
t = 1.5 s Answer: Negative velocity indicates that the ball is moving downward.

Projectile Motion
Projectile motion is the motion of an object thrown or projected into the air, subject to only the
acceleration of gravity. The moving object is called a projectile, and its path is called its trajectory.
Motion I
If a projectile was released horizontally from a
certain height, it will follow a curve path called trajectory
as shown in Fig 1. The curved path is the result of two
motion, horizontal motion and vertical motion. The
horizontal motion has constant velocity while the vertical
motion is uniformly accelerated due to gravity. If a ball was
dropped and another ball was thrown horizontally, both
balls will hit the ground at the same time because both are
accelerated downward at the rate of 9.8 m/s2. This is
possible because the ball thrown horizontally has a faster
resultant velocity due to its horizontal motion component.
Fig 1. Projectile Motion !
Kinematic quantities of Objects in Projectile Motion I (Vertical)
1. Acceleration due to gravity (ag) – It is equal to 9.8 m / s2 since object will speed up as it
moves downward.
2. Height (dy) – It is the vertical displacement component of the trajectory. Most often, it is given
in the word problem.
3. Time (t) – It is the time from the point of release up the end of the trajectory. As mentioned
earlier, the ball dropped and thrown horizontally will hit the same ground. Using this
information, the time could be computed using
4. Vertical Initial Velocity (viy) – Since the initial velocity is horizontal, there is no vertical
component for its initial velocity, hence, it is zero (viy = 0)
5. Vertical final Velocity (vfy) – It is the vertical component of the projectile’s velocity. This is just
equal to the final velocity of a free falling body with zero (0) initial velocity mathematically
expressed as vfy = agt
Kinematic quantities of Objects in Projectile Motion I (Horizontal)
1. Range (dx) – horizontal distance component of the trajectory mathematically expressed as
dx = vxt
2. Horizontal Velocity (vx) – velocity equal to initial horizontal velocity since it is in constant
motion.
Resultant Velocity
The resultant is the vector sum of two or more vectors. It is the result of adding two or
more vectors together. Since the motion of projectiles are the result of horizontal velocity (v fx) and
vertical velocity (vfy), the resultant velocity could be determined using equation for adding two vectors
that are perpendicular mathematically expressed as . This is similar to Pythagorean
Theorem. To get the direction of the resultant velocity, we could use the equation
Sample Problem
2. A cannon ball is fired horizontally from a cliff 50 m high from the horizontal ground at 50 m/s.
a. How long will it take for the cannon ball to hit the horizontal ground?
b. What is the vertical velocity of the cannon ball just before it hits the ground?
c. What is the range?
d. What is the resultant velocity of the cannon ball?
e. What is the direction of the resultant velocity?
Solution:
a. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
viy = 0 t = 2(50m) t = 3.19 s
ag = 9.8 m/s2 9.8 m/s2
d = 50 m t = _100 m_
9.8 m/s2
t = 10.20 s2
b. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
viy = 0 vfy = agt vfy = 9.8 m/s2(3.19 s) vfy = 31.26 m / s
ag = 9.8 m/s2
t = 3.19 s
c. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
vx = 50 m/s dx = vxt dx = 50 m/s(3,19 s) dx = 159.5 m
t = 3.19 s
d. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
2 2
vx = 50 m/s v = (50 m/s) + (31.26 m / s) v = 58.97 m/s
vfy = 31.26 m / s
v= (2 500 m2/s2)+ (977.19 m2/s2)

2 2
v = 3 477.19 m /s
e. Given Equation Solution Final Answer
-1
vx = 50 m/s θ = 31.26 m / s Tan θ = 32.21 0
vfy = 31.26 m / s 50 m/s
θ = (0.63) Tan -1

Word Problem.
Procedure:
a. Identify the given in the word problem (1pt)
b. Choose appropriate working equation based from the given (1pt)
c. Replace the variables with quantities in the given and perform operations in the solution
(2pts)
d. Write the final answer with proper label and unit then encircle it. (1pt)
1 – 25. A metal ball was thrown vertically upward from a horizontal with an initial velocity of 5 m / s.
1 – 5. What is the maximum height the metal ball could reach?
6 – 10. How long will it take for the ball to reach the maximum height?
11 – 15. What is the time of flight?
16 – 20. Using the time of flight, how fast is the ball just before it hits the ground?
21 – 25. How fast is the ball at 1.5 s? Was it moving upward or downward?
26 – 50. A cannon ball is fired horizontally from a cliff 50 m high from the horizontal ground at 100 m/s.
26 – 30. How long will it take for the cannon ball to hit the horizontal ground?
31 – 35. What is the vertical velocity of the cannon ball just before it hits the ground?
36 – 40. What is the range?
41 – 45. What is the resultant velocity of the cannon ball?
46 – 50. What is the direction of the resultant velocity?