OBJECTIVE

1. Describe the behavior of a free-falling body.

2. Modify the equations to be used to solve these

cases of free-falling body:

a) dropped from a certain height

b) thrown downward
c) thrown upward

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 FREE FALL

Free fall is the

motion of a
body where
gravity is the
only force
acting on it. 

2 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 FREE FALL

• In the fourth century B.C., Aristotle thought

(erroneously) that heavy objects fall faster than
light objects, in proportion to their weight.

• Nineteen centuries later, Galileo argued that an

object should fall with a downward acceleration that
is constant and independent of its weight.

3 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
GENERAL PHYSICS 01| MS. BUENAFE Adamson University
 BEHAVIOR OF A FREE-FALLING BODY

5 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 BEHAVIOR OF A FREE-FALLING BODY

2. Time symmetry

It means that the time

required for an object to reach its
maximum height equals the time
for it to return to its starting point.

6 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 BEHAVIOR OF A FREE-FALLING BODY

3. Speed symmetry

It shows that at any

displacement at any point of
release, the speed of the body
during the upward trip equals the
speed during the downward trip.

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 FREE FALL QUANTITIES AND SYMBOLS
QUANTITY STANDARD SYMBOL FREE-FALL SYMBOL Sign Conventions
Displacement + (upward)
- (downward)

Initial Velocity + (above point of release,

upward)
- (below point of release,
or when y is downward)
Final Velocity + (upward)
- (downward)

Acceleration a always negative (-)

(the only acceleration
being experienced by a
free-falling body is the
acceleration due to gravity)

Time t t Time is a scalar quantity.

8 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 RECALL
Modified true or false. Determine if the following statements are true or false. If false, give the correct
answer.

1. Ignoring air resistance, the only force that acts on a free-falling body is gravity.
2. In free-fall, velocities and displacements are always negative.
3. The velocity at the maximum height is zero.
4. As the object moves upward, its velocity increases and as it goes downward, its
velocity decreases.
5. The derived kinematic equations are applicable to free-fall because it is an example
of uniformly accelerated motion.
6. In free fall, time and speed are asymmetrical.
7. Acceleration of free-falling bodies can be positive and negative.

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 DIFFERENT CASES OF FREE FALL
 
Displacement

 
 
 

time

 
final velocity

   
 

10 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
OBJECT DROPPED FROM A CERTAIN HEIGHT
Given
How long is her thigh?
 

Required Solution
y
 

Equation  

 
 
 
 

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 DIFFERENT CASES OF FREE FALL

 
Displacement
CASE 2: Thrown
downward  

An object thrown
time
downward HAS AN
INITIAL VELOCITY.  

 
final velocity
 

12 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
THROWN DOWNWARD
Given Required
 
 

Equation

   

   
 
 

t=?    

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
THROWN DOWNWARD
Solution
 

   

 
 
 

t=?    

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 DIFFERENT CASES OF FREE FALL
CASE 3: Thrown Upward  

Note: Velocity is Velocity is

1. Time and speed are symmetrical. decreasing increasing
2. Upward velocities are positive and
(+) v (-) v
decreasing. Thus, initial velocity from the
starting point is always positive.
   
3. Downward velocities are negative and
increasing.
4. Velocity at the maximum height is zero.
5. You can solve the first half of the of the
trajectory and consider the second half
as the first case of free fall (object
dropped).
15 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD

 
First half of the trajectory
Initial velocity at the starting point Velocity is Note: The second
decreasing half of its trajectory
  is already an example
of the first case
(+) v (dropped from a
certain height)
Height (y)
   

time
 

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 THROWN UPWARD

In 1984, Michael Jordan soared to a

height of 48 inches. It was one of the
top highest vertical leaps.

Calculate his hangtime and takeoff

speed.

17 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD
  Equation Solution:
   

 
 
 
 
 
Required

(a) initial velocity  

(b) time  

 
Note: Hang time means the total
time spent in air.
Time was multiplied to 2 since  
time is symmetrical. (Upward trip
= downward trip)

18 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD

A stone is thrown vertically upward

with a speed of 10 m/s from the edge
of a cliff.

Calculate the trajectory of the stone

and its final velocity before hitting the
ground given that the time it takes
from the maximum height to reach
the ground is 3s.

19 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD
Equation Solution
 
y up to max height y up to max height

   

y=5.10 m
y from max height to the
Required ground
  y from max height to the
  ground
 

Trajectory (scalar)
 
y to max height + y from max height to
ground
 

20 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD
Equations Solution
y up to max height y up to max height y from max height to the
ground

     

   
y from max height to the
ground
     

Trajectory (scalar)
Trajectory (scalar)  

y to max height + y from max height to y=5.10 m+ 44.1 m

ground
y= 49. 2 m

21 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
 THROWN UPWARD
 

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 Modified True or False

1. When an object is thrown upward, its initial velocity is always

negative.
2. We can use the equations derived for the first case (object dropped)
on the second half of the third case (max height to ground).
3. Takeoff speed also means initial velocity from the starting point.
4. Hang time refers to the time taken from the ground up to the
maximum height.
5. Velocities for the third case are always positive.

23 GENERAL PHYSICS 1