PHYSICAL SCIENCE

GRADE :10 - 12

CURRICULUM DISCUSSION
17th MARCH 2021
COMMON ERRORS AND
MISCONCEPTIONS
• A graph of velocity –time and position -time drawn from 0 to the
positive gradient depicts an object going upwards and vice versa
• Interpretation of a velocity of +5m/s to be of an object moving faster
than that of an object with a velocity of -8m/s for an example.
• Failing to apply the correct sign convention when substituting into an
equation of motion.
• failure to recognize a the slope of a given velocity –time dictates a
particular sign convention .
• Learner thinking that the velocity with which the object hits the ground
is zero.
Errors & Misconceptions
* Learners seem to think a is directed up when a
projectile moves up.
* They get confused with velocity-time
graph,velocity directed up but in the graph
slope decreasing.
* When reaching maximum height,v is
zero,therefore a is zero as well
Errors & Misconceptions
(PHSC November2019 )
Vertical Projectile Motion
Lesson Objectives.
1. Description of motion of object dropped or released from
a certain height above the ground.
2. Description of motion of an object thrown from a certain
height above the ground.
3. An object thrown vertically upwards from a point and
allowed to come back to the same point
4. An object thrown vertically upwards from a point above
the ground and allowed to fall back past the point to the
ground
• FREE – Fall
• Free Fall is defined as the motion of
an object upon which the only force
acting is the force of gravity.
• Free –Body diagram
• The only force acting is the Force
Of Gravity and therefore the Net
Force acting on the object is the
Force of Gravity only.
Scenario 1
• An object dropped from a certain height above the
ground
• The gravitational acceleration is 9,8 m/s downwards.
• The only force acting is the Force of Gravity
• The Net force, the gravitational acceleration and the
motion of the object are in the same direction –
• The magnitude of the velocity of the object therefore
INCREASES form an initial velocity of Zero.
 Initial velocity = 0 gravitational acceleration

Is 9,8 m.s-2 downwards

The velocity of the object increases.

Net Force, acceleration and motion of the object are in the same direction.

Final velocity maximum

The trajectory of an object dropped from a certain height above the ground
Scenario 2
• An object Thrown downwards from a certain height above
the Ground .
• The initial velocity is not zero
• The object accelerates downwards , the Net Force is
downwards and the motion of the object is downwards.
 Initial velocity = 0 gravitational acceleration

Is 9,8 m.s-2 downwards

The velocity of the object increases.

Net Force, acceleration and motion of the object are in the same direction.

Final velocity maximum

The trajectory of an object dropped from a certain height above the ground
Scenario 3

• An object thrown upwards from a point and allowed back to the same point.
• Considering UPWARD MOTION
• The gravitational acceleration is 9,8m/𝑠^2 downwards .
• The Net Force acting on the object is the Force of Gravity
• The Displacement of the object is Upwards.
• The Net Force, Gravitational acceleration is downwards but the motion of
the object is upwards. The magnitude of the velocity of the objects
decreases until it reaches the maximum height where the velocity is Zero.
Scenario 4
Scenario 5
BOUNCING BALL
• A bouncing ball is a repetitive up and down motion.
• When the ball is not in contact with the ground it experiences
Free Fall.
• The bouncing ball experiences two changes in direction i.e
• - at the maximum height it reaches
• And at the ground where it bounces.
• The collision with the ground can be considered to be Elastic or
Inelastic.
 Multiple choice questions

Four options are provided as possible answers to the following

questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.

1. 1 A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Which ONE of the

following physical quantities has a non-zero value at the
instant the ball changes direction?

A Acceleration
B Kinetic energy
C Momentum
D Velocity
1. 2 An object is thrown vertically upwards. Which
ONE of the following regarding the object’s
velocity and acceleration at the highest point of its motion
is CORRECT? Ignore the effects of friction.

VELOCITY ACCELERATION
A Zero Zero
B Zero Upwards
C Maximum Zero
D Zero Downwards
3 A ball is released from a height above the floor. The ball falls
vertically and bounces off the floor a number of times. Ignore the
effects of friction and assume that the collision of the ball with the
floor is elastic. Take the point of release of the ball as the reference
point and downward direction as positive.

Which ONE of the following is a CORRECT representation of the

position-time graph for the motion of the ball?
1.4 Which ONE of the graphs below correctly represents the relationship between the
kinetic energy (K) of a freefalling object and its speed (v)?
Answers
1.1 A
1.2 D
1.3 D
1.4 C
Question 2

A ball of mass 0,5 kg is projected vertically downwards towards the ground

from a height of 1,8 m at a velocity of 2 m·s-1. The position-time graph for
the motion of the ball is shown below.

1.1. What is the maximum vertical height reached by the ball after the
second bounce? (1)

Calculate the:
1.2. Magnitude of the time t1 indicated on the graph. (5)

1.3. Velocity with which the ball rebounds from the ground during the
first bounce. (4)

The ball is in contact with the ground for 0,2 s during the first
bounce.

1.4. Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted by the ground on the
ball during the first bounce if the ball strikes the ground at
6,27m·s-1. (4)

1.5. Draw a velocity-time graph for the motion of the ball from the time
that it is projected to the time when it rebounds to a height of 0.9
m.
Clearly show the following on your graph:
• The time when the ball hits the ground
• The velocity of the ball when it hits the ground
• The velocity of the ball when it rebounds from the ground (3)
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Thank you