PHYSICS FOR

ENGINEERS
2C-FREE FALL
Free fall
An object is in free fall when its motion is only acted upon by gravity
with constant acceleration along y-axis equal to the acceleration
due to gravity.
For this lesson, we will be using an acceleration due to gravity, 𝑔,
that is 9.81 m/s2.
We use 𝑎 = −𝑔 to indicate that the direction of acceleration due to
gravity is always directed downward.

2C-FREE FALL
Free fall
Examples of objects in free fall (in one dimension) include:
1. Objects that are falling
2. Objects dropped from rest
3. Objects thrown downward
4. Objects thrown upward

2C-FREE FALL
Free fall
Assuming that the initial time is zero, basic equations used for
analyzing freefall are as follows:
𝑣 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡 where:
1 2 𝑣 → velocity (along y)
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 𝑣0 → initial velocity (along y)
2
𝑣0 + 𝑣 𝑔 → acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑡 𝑡 → time
2
𝑣 2 − 𝑣02 = −2𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) 𝑦 → position/height
𝑦 → initial position/height
𝑦 − 𝑦0 → displacement

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.6
A stone is dropped from rest and falls freely. Compute the position
and velocity at t=1.00 s, 2.00 s, 3.00 s, and 4.00 s. Assume that the
stone starts from 𝑦 = 0.

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.6
Given/unknown: 𝑣0 = 0 dropped ; 𝑎 = −𝑔 (freefall);
𝑡 =1.00 s, 2.00 s, 3.00 s, 4.00 s; 𝑦0 = 0; 𝑦 = ? ; 𝑣 = ?
For the position, the given variables are 𝑡, 𝑎, 𝑦 we use equation 2.
For the velocity, the given variables are 𝑡, 𝑎, 𝑣 we use equation 1.
1 2
𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 𝑦 2 = −19.6 m
2 𝑦 3 = −44.1 m
𝑦 1 = 0 + 0 1 − 0.5 9.81 1 2 = −4.91 m
𝑦 4 = −78.5 m
Negative sign indicates that it went down.
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡 𝑣 2 = −19.6 m/s
𝑣 1 = 0 − 9.81 1 = −9.81 m/s 𝑣 3 = −29.4 m/s
Negative sign indicates that it is moving downward. 𝑣 4 = −33.2 m/s
2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.7
A bullet is fired vertically upward with an initial speed of 15.0 m/s
from the top of a 100.0 m tall building. On its way down, it misses
the cornice and continuous to move downward. Find the following:
1. Position from the ground and velocity after 4.00 s
2. Velocity when it is 5.00 m above the elevation it was fired
3. Maximum height and time at which it is reached
4. Time it would take to reach the ground

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.7
Given: 𝑣0 = 15.0 m/s; 𝑦0 = 100.0 m (we set 𝑦 = 0 at the ground)
𝑎 = −𝑔 (freefall)
1. Position from the ground and velocity after 4.00 s
Given/unknown: 𝑡 = 4.00 s; 𝑦 = ? ; 𝑣 = ?
For the position, we are given 𝑎, 𝑡, 𝑦, so we use equation 2.
1 2
𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
𝑦 4 = 100 + 15 4 − 0.5 9.81 4 2
𝑦 4 = 81.5 m (at this time, it is below the building)
For the velocity, we are given 𝑎, 𝑡, 𝑣, so we use equation 1.
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡
𝑣 4 = 15 − 9.81 4
𝑣 4 = −24.2 m/s (at this time, it is already moving downward)

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.7
Given: 𝑣0 = 15.0 m/s; 𝑦0 = 100.0 m (we set 𝑦 = 0 at the ground)
𝑎 = −𝑔 (freefall)
2. Velocity when it is 5.00 m above the elevation it was fired
Given/unknown: 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 5.00 m; 𝑣 = ?
Since we are given 𝑎, 𝑦, 𝑣, so we use equation 4: 𝑣 2 − 𝑣02 = −2𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦0 )
𝑣 2 − 152 = −2(9.81)(5)
𝑣 2 = 126.9
𝑣 = 11.26499001
𝑣 = ±11.3 m/s (The bullet passes through this point twice, one is when it is going up,
and the another is when it is going down.)

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.7
Given: 𝑣0 = 15.0 m/s; 𝑦0 = 100.0 m (we set 𝑦 = 0 at the ground)
𝑎 = −𝑔 (freefall)
3. Maximum height and time at which it is reached
Given/unknown: 𝑣 = 0; it temporarily stops at max height 𝑦 = ? ; 𝑡 = ?
Since we are given 𝑎, 𝑣, 𝑦 and 𝑎, 𝑣, 𝑡, we can use equations 4 and 1.
𝑣 2 − 𝑣02 = −2𝑔 𝑦 − 𝑦0
0 − 152 = −2 9.81 𝑦 − 100
𝑦 = 111 m
𝑣 = 𝑣0 − 𝑔𝑡
0 = 15 − 9.81𝑡
𝑡 = 1.53 s

2C-FREE FALL
Example 2.7
Given: 𝑣0 = 15.0 m/s; 𝑦0 = 100.0 m (we set 𝑦 = 0 at the ground)
𝑎 = −𝑔 (freefall)
4. Time it would take to reach the ground
Given/unknown: 𝑦 = 0; ground 𝑡 = ?
Since we are given 𝑎, 𝑦, 𝑡 we can use equation 2.
1 2
𝑦 = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
0 = 100 + 15𝑡 − 0.5 9.81 𝑡 2
𝑡 = −3.23806 s or 𝑡 = 6.29616 s
A negative time indicates an event in the past, it is not possible since the
bullet was not fired yet. Therefore,
𝑡 = 6.30 s

2C-FREE FALL