BAHAN PDPR

SIRI 2 /2021

PHYSICS FORM 4

NAME: CLASS:

Theme 2: Newtonian Mechanics

Chapter 2: Force and Motion I

2.3 Free Falls

1. Free Fall Motion and Gravitational Acceleration
• An object experiences free fall if the motion of the object is affected only by gravitational force.
• This implies a free-falling object does NOT experience the action of other forces such as air
resistance or friction.
• The acceleration of a free-falling object caused by gravitational force is known as gravitational
acceleration, g.
• The average value of Earth’s gravitational acceleration is 9.81 m s–2. The velocity of a free-falling
object increases by 9.81 m s–1 per second in uniform gravitational field close to the surface of the
Earth.
• When a heavy object falls in the gravitational field, air resistance can be ignored. The object is in
free fall motion.
• Activities to investigate the motion of falling objects:
1. Hold two stones with different sizes at the same height and then drop both
stone simultaneously from the same height.
(a) Describe how the velocity changes.
Velocity increases
(b) Compare the time taken for the stones to reach the floor.
Equal
(c) Is the acceleration of the stones influenced by their masses?
Mass does not influence acceleration.

2. Hold a golf ball and a piece of paper at the same height and drop them
simultaneously
(a) Which object reaches the floor first?
The golf ball.
(b) Explain why.
Surface area of paper large, large air resistance

Repeat with a golf ball and a piece of paper which is crumpled.

(c) Which object reaches the floor first?
Both objects
(d) Explain why
Surface area of crumpled paper small, low air resistance.

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 3. A coin and a feather are released from the same height simultaneously
in the laboratory. Air Resistance
Observation:
The feather falls slower than the coin.

State and label two forces acted on the coin and feather.

Explanation: Gravitational force

Surface area of feather large, large air resistance. The feather falls
slower.

The same coin and feather are put into a vacuum tube and then
dropped simultaneously from the same height.
Observation:
The feather and coin fall at the same time.
Explanation:
• In vacuum, there is no air resistance. The only forces acted on both
objects is the force of gravity.
• Both objects reach bottom with the same acceleration due to gravity.
In daily life, why we see that heavy objects fall and reach the ground faster than light objects.
This is due to other forces such as air resistance.
In what condition objects of different masses fall with the same acceleration?
If air resistance does not exist. This can be happened in vacuum.
or The weight of the object overcome the air resistance.

2. Determining the Value of Gravitational Acceleration

Experiment1:
Aim: To determine Earth’s gravitational acceleration
Apparatus: Ticker timer, alternating current power supply, G-clamp, retort stand, slotted weights and
chair
Materials: Ticker tape, cellophane tape, connecting wires and thick cloth as a cushion

Procedures:
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in figure below.

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 2. Pass one end of the ticker tape of length 2.0 m through the ticker timer.
3. Hold the end of the ticker tape from above.
4. Attach a 50 g weight to the end of the ticker tape that has passed through the ticker timer.
5. Switch on the ticker timer and release the ticker tape attached to the weight to fall from a fixed
height.
6. Determine the value of gravitational acceleration, g from the ticks on the ticker tape.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for 100 g, 150 g, 200 g and 250 g weights.

Results:
Mass of weights, m / g 50 100 150 200 250
–2
Gravitational acceleration, g / m s
Discussion:
1. What is the type of motion of the objects as they fall under the pull of gravity?
Constant acceleration = gravitational acceleration
2. Show how you calculate g from the tape.

3. Compare the value of acceleration due to gravity from this activity with actual value. Give possible
reasons for any difference in these two values.
• g from the activity is lower than actual value.
• Frictional force between the ticker tape and the ticker timer and the air resistance.
4. The value of gravitational acceleration, g changes from one place to another. For example, the
value of at the equator is 9.78 m s–2 while the value of at the Earth’s poles is 9.83 m s–2. Why?
• The Earth is actually not a perfect sphere.
• The distance from the equator to the centre of the Earth is further than the distance from the
poles to the center of the Earth.
• So the value of g is smaller at the equator than at the Earth’s pole
Conclusion:
The gravitational acceleration, g obtained from the experiment is ____________.

3. The value of gravitational acceleration, g changes from one place to another.

• For example, the value of g at the equator is 9.78 m s–2 while the value of g at the Earth’s poles is
9.83 m s–2.
• This is because Earth is actually not a perfect sphere.
• The distance from the equator to the centre of the
Earth is further than the distance from the poles to the
centre of the Earth.
• the value of g is smaller at the equator than at the
Earth’s poles.
• Generally, the value of gravitational acceleration on the
surface of the Earth, g used in calculations is 9.81 m s–2.

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 4. Solving Problems Related to Free Falling Objects
• The equations of linear motion can be applied to free falling objects:
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡 1 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑔𝑠
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡 2
2

• Free fall is motion with acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration of

frees fall motion is known as gravitational acceleration, g.
• When solving problems involving gravity, the acceleration, a is always
g=9.81 m s–2

4. Susan dropped a ball from a cliff 10m tall. Determine

(a) the time taken for the ball to reach the bottom of the cliff.
(b) the velocity of the ball before touching the ground.
Neglect the air resistance. [g = 9.81ms-2]
(a) initial velocity, 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 (b) 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑔𝑠
Displacement, 𝑠 = −10𝑚 𝑣 2 = 0 + 2(−9.81)(−10)
Acceleration, 𝑔 = −9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 𝑣 = ±14.0
1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 2 𝑔𝑡 2 𝑣 = −14.0𝑠
1
−10 = 0 + 2 (9.81)𝑡 2 (𝑣 = −14.0𝑠 is rejected because the ball
2
−20 = (9.81)𝑡 moves downwards)
−20
𝑡2 = @ 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
9.81
𝑡 = 1.43𝑠 𝑣 = 0 + (−9.81)(1.43)
(𝑡 = −1.43𝑠 is rejected) 𝑣 = −14.0𝑠

5. Sam tossed a coin vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 10𝑚𝑠 −1 . Calculate
(a) the time taken for the coin to reach the maximum height.
(b) the maximum height achieved by the coin.
Neglect the air resistance. [g = 9.81ms-2]
(a) initial velocity, 𝑢 = 10𝑚𝑠 −1 (b) 𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑔𝑠
−1
Final velocity, v= 0𝑚𝑠 0 = (10)2 + 2(−9.81)𝑆
102
(at maximum height) 𝑠=
2(9.81)
Acceleration, 𝑔 = −9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 𝑠 = 5.10𝑚
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
0 = 10 + (−9.81)𝑡
10
𝑡=
9.81
𝑡 = 1.02𝑠

Exercise 2.3: [Assume g = 9.81 m s-2 and there is no air resistance]

1 A rock falls from a height of 45 m.

(a) How long does it take to reach the ground?
𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑠 = 45𝑚; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = ?
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + ½𝑔𝑡 2
45 = 0 + ½(9.81)(𝑡 2 )
𝑡 2 = 45/4.9 = 9.18
𝑡 = 3.03 𝑠

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(b) What is its velocity as it hits the ground?
𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑠 = 45𝑚; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = 3.03𝑠; 𝑣 = ?
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
= 0 + 9.81 (3.03)
= 29.72 𝑚/𝑠
2 Amir releases a stone into a well. If the distance between the top of the well and the water
surface is 20 m,
(a) what is the time required for the stone to reach the surface of the water?
𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑠 = 20𝑚; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = ?
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + ½𝑔𝑡 2
20 = 0 + ½(9.81)(𝑡 2 )
𝑡 2 = 20/4.9 = 4.08
𝑡 = 2.02 𝑠
(b) What is the velocity of the stone when it strikes the surface of the water?
𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑠 = 20𝑚; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = 2𝑠; 𝑣 =?
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
= 0 + (9.81)(2)
= 19.62 𝑚/𝑠
3 Amirah threw a ball vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 10 m s–1. Calculate the:
(a) time for the ball to achieve maximum height.
𝑢 = 10𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 (𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡); 𝑔 = −9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 (𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑); 𝑡 = ?
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
0 = 10 + (−9.81)𝑡
𝑡 = 10/9.81 = 1.02 𝑠
(b) maximum height that can be reached by the ball
𝑢 = 10𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑔 = −9.8𝑚𝑠 −2; 𝑡 = 1.02𝑠; 𝑠 =?
2 2
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 2𝑔𝑠
0 = 102 + 2(−9.8)𝑠
𝑠 = 5.10 𝑚
4 A ball is thrown upwards from the ground with a velocity of 30 m/s. After how many
seconds will it strike the ground again?
𝑔 = −9.8𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑢 = 30𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = ?
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
0 = 30 – (9.8)𝑡
9.8𝑡 = 30
𝑡 = 3.1 𝑠
𝑡 = 3.1 × 2 = 6.2 𝑠
5 An object of mass 5 kg is released from a tall building of height 500 m. What is the time taken to
reach the ground?
𝑠 = 500𝑚; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑔 = 9.8𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑡 = ?
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + ½𝑔𝑡 2
500 = 0 + ½ (9.8)(𝑡 2 )
𝑡 2 = 500/4.9 = 102.04
𝑡 = 10.1 𝑠
6 Sketch the following graph for an object that is falling freely.

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7 Diagram 7 is a stroboscopic photograph shows two steel balls in a state of free-fall.
Both balls are dropped simultaneously from the same height.
(a) Observe the photograph and state two similarities between the position of the balls.
• The position of the balls equal
• The distance between the position of each ball increases.
(b) Name one physical quantity which causes the balls to fall.
• Gravitational force / weight
(i) Based on the positions of the free-falling balls, there is a physical quantity that is constant.
Name the quantity.
• Gravitational acceleration /g
(ii) What is the value of the quantity and its unit?
• 9.8 ms-2
(iii) State how the mass of a ball affect the valued of the physical quantity stated in (c)(i).
• Gravitational acceleration does not depend on mass of a ball.
(c) A ball is thrown vertically upwards at a certain velocity.
(i) What happens to the motion of the ball as it moves upwards?
• Velocity of the ball decreases / deceleration
(ii) Give one reasons for your answer.
• Moves against gravitational force.
8 Amy released a stone from a cliff of 10 m height. Determine
(a) the time taken for the stone to reach the bottom of the cliff
𝑠 = 10𝑚; 𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = ?
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + ½ 𝑔𝑡 2
10 = 0 + ½ (9.81) 𝑡 2
10 = 4.9𝑡 2
𝑐 = 10/4.9 = 2.04
𝑡 = 1.43 𝑠
(b) the velocity of the stone just before it touches the ground.
𝑢 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣 = ? ; 𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑡 = 1.43𝑠
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
= 0 + (9.81)(1.43) = 14.0 𝑚/𝑠
9 An object thrown vertically upwards reached a maximum height of 5.0 m. Calculate:
(a) the velocity of the object when thrown
𝑢 = ? 𝑣 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑔 = −9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ; 𝑠 = 5𝑚
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑔𝑠
𝑢2 = 2 × 9.81 × 5 = 98.1 𝑚/𝑠
(b) the time taken for the object to reach its maximum height
𝑢 = 98𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑣 = 0𝑚𝑠 −1 ; 𝑡 = ? 𝑔 = −9.81𝑚𝑠 −2
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡
0 = 98 – 9.81𝑡
9.81𝑡 = 98
𝑡 = 9.99 𝑠
(c) the time required for the object to return to its original level
𝑡 = 10 × 2 = 20 𝑠