Algebra Based Physics

New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning

Free Fall Demonstration
Problem

• Five students are trying to figure out the final velocity of a baseball
before it hits the ground when dropped directly downwards from 3
meters above the ground. The teacher has provided the students
with a baseball and a stopwatch. How can the students calculate the
baseball’s final velocity?
• Create a method for solving this problem. The method can be either
qualitative or quantitative
Algebraic Derivation

• If the baseball is not accelerating, how can we relate final velocity of

the baseball to the initial velocity of the baseball?
Algebraic Derivation

• If the baseball is not accelerating, how can we relate final velocity of

the baseball to the initial velocity of the baseball?

𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙
Algebraic Derivation
𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙

• Let’s look at the units of our equation so far: m/s

• If the baseball is accelerating, how can we mathematically relate
acceleration in units of m/s?
Algebraic Derivation
𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙

• Let’s look at the units of our equation so far: m/s

• If the baseball is accelerating, how can we mathematically relate
acceleration in units of m/s?

𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
=𝑎∗𝑡 ∎ 2
∗ 𝑠 =
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
Algebraic Derivation
• The product of acceleration and time is the final velocity of an object
accelerating over time 𝑡 from an initial velocity of 0 m/s.
• How can we calculate the final velocity, 𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 , of a baseball released
with an initial velocity, 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 , and accelerating with magnitude 𝑎
over time 𝑡?
Algebraic Derivation
• The product of acceleration and time is the final velocity of an object
accelerating over time 𝑡 from an initial velocity of 0 m/s.
• How can we calculate the final velocity, 𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 , of a baseball released
with an initial velocity, 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 , and accelerating with magnitude 𝑎
over time 𝑡?

𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 + 𝑎 ∗ 𝑡

• This equation is known as the first kinematics equation

Conclusion
• Let’s return back to the given problem.
• The baseball is dropped from a set height, therefore the ball is
released from rest: 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 0 m/s
Conclusion
• Let’s return back to the given problem.
• The baseball is dropped from a set height, therefore the ball is
released from rest: 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 0 m/s
• Once released, the baseball is in free fall. Therefore the acceleration
of the baseball is equal to the acceleration due to gravity: 𝑎 = -9.8
m/s2 = g
Conclusion
• Let’s return back to the given problem.
• The baseball is dropped from a set height, therefore the ball is
released from rest: 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 0 m/s
• Once released, the baseball is in free fall. Therefore the acceleration
of the baseball is equal to the acceleration due to gravity: 𝑎 = -9.8
m/s2 = g
• If the baseball is released from rest at a set height, how can we
calculate the velocity of the baseball as a function of time?
Conclusion
• Let’s return back to the given problem.
• The baseball is dropped from a set height, therefore the ball is
released from rest: 𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 0 m/s
• Once released, the baseball is in free fall. Therefore the acceleration
of the baseball is equal to the acceleration due to gravity: 𝑎 = -9.8
m/s2 = g
• If the baseball is released from rest at a set height, how can we
calculate the velocity of the baseball as a function of time?

𝑣𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = 𝑔 ∗ 𝑡