FREE FALL

Objectives:
• Know the meaning of free fall and the conditions under which it
occurs,
• Calculate how fast and how far a free-falling object will move
in a given amount of time, and
• Understand that the acceleration of gravity is independent of the
mass of the free-falling object.
Free Fall
• Is the motion of an object under the effect of gravitational force
only.
• Free falling bodies are good examples of uniformly accelerated
motion.
• The body moves under the action of gravitational force of the
Earth only when air resistance is neglected.
• It is found that all freely falling bodies are accelerated toward
the center of the Earth.
• The value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth is 9.8 m/s2.
• Acceleration due to gravity is denoted by the letter “g”.
• This means that all the equations that we have derived about
acceleration apply to all freely falling bodies.
• Suppose we consider an object released from a certain height
from the Earth’s surface . Since it is released from rest, its
initial velocity is zero, and its acceleration is equal is equal to g.
• Free fall does not mean that the object is falling down
only.
• Objects throw upward or downward and those released
from rest are all the examples of free fall.
• Given these quantities, we can calculate the velocities and
displacements at any given time using the equations that we
derived for accelerating bodies.
• Vf = vi + gt
• D = ½ gt2
• Vf2 = vi2 + 2gd
Falling objects and air resistance

• More air resistance on without crumpled-up piece

of paper.
• Less air resistance on crumpled-up piece of
paper.
Acceleration due to gravity
• During each second of fall, the speed of the ball changes by 9.8
m/s.
• The change in speed is due to gravity.
• Hence, the acceleration in this case is called acceleration due to
gravity.
• G = 9.8 m/s2
Example 1:

• In an amusement park, a Demon Drop ride falls freely for 2 s after

starting from rest. Find (a) its velocity at the end of 2 s and (b) the
height covered at the end of the drop.
Given:
Vi = 0 m/s
T=2s
G = 9.8 m/s2Required to find: vf and d
Solution:
a. Vf = vi + gt
= 0 + (9.8 m/s2)(2 s)
= 19.6 m/s
b. D = ½ gt2
= ½ (9.8 m/s2) (2 s)2
= 19.6 m
Example 2:
• Luke Autbeloe drops a pile of roof shingles from the top of a roof located 8.52
meters above the ground. Determine the time required for the shingles to reach the
ground.
Given:
Vi = 0 m/s
D = 8.52 m
G = 9.8 m/s2
T=?
Solution:
D = ½ gt2
8.52 m = ½ (9.8 m/s2)t2
8.52 m = 4.9 m/s2(t2)
1.73877551 s2 = t2
1.318626372 s = t
1.32 s = t
Example 3:
• Rex Things throws his mother's crystal vase vertically upwards with an initial
velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine the height to which the vase will rise above its initial
height.
Given:
Vi = 26.2 m/s
Vf = 0 m/s
G = 9.8 m/s2
D=?
Solution:
Vf2 = vi2 + 2gd
0 m/s = (26.2 m/s)2 + 2(9.8 m/s2)(d)
19.6 m/s2(d) = 686.44 m/s2
d = 35.02244898 m
d = 35.02 m
Example 4:
• An airplane accelerates down a runway at 3.20 m/s2 for 32.8 s until is finally
lifts off the ground. Determine the distance traveled before takeoff.
Given:
g = 3.2 m/s2
t = 32.8 s
vi = 0 m/s
d=?
Solution:
d = ½ gt2
= ½ (3.2 m/s2) (32.8 s)2
=1 721.344 m
= 1 721.34 m
Example 5:
• Upton Chuck is riding the Giant Drop at Great America. If Upton free falls
for 2.60 seconds, what will be his final velocity and how far will he fall?
Given:
g = 9.8 m/s2 Required:
t = 2.6 s vf = ?
vi = 0 m/s d = ?
Solution:
d = ½ gt2 vf = vi + gt
d = ½ (9.8 m/s2)(2.6 s)2 = 0 m/s + (9.8 m/s2)(2.6 s)
d = 33.124 m = 25.48 m/s
d = 33.12 m
Example 6
• A man throws a ball from the top of the building with an initial
velocity of 20.0 m/s straight upward, at an initial height of 50.0
m above the ground. The ball just misses the edge of the roof
on its way down. Determine (a) the time needed for the ball to
reach its maximum height, (b) the maximum height, (c) the
time needed for the ball to return to the height from which it
was thrown and the velocity of the ball at that instant, (d) the
time needed for the ball to reach the ground, and (e) the
velocity and position of the ball at t=5.00 s. Neglect air drag.
Example 7
• A rocket moves straight upward, starting from rest with an acceleration of
24.9 m/s2. It runs out of fuel at the end of 4.00 s and continues to coast
upward, reaching a maximum height before falling back to earth. (a) Find
the rocket’s velocity and position at the end of 4.00 s. (b) Find the
maximum height the rocket reaches.
PROJECTILE
MOTION
Objectives:
• Define projectile motion,
• Identify the types of projectile motion,
• Differentiate the type of projectile motion,
• Summarize all the kinematics equation in solving projectile
motion, and
• Solve problems involving the types of projectile motion.
What is projectile?
Projectile – any object which projected by some means and
continues to move due to its own inertia (mass).
Projectiles move in two dimensions
• A projectile moves in 2 dimensions, therefore, it has 2
components just like a resultant vector.
• Trajectory – path of a projectile.
• The shape of the trajectory is a PARABOLA.
• The horizontal distance that the projectile travels is the
RANGE.
Horizontal “velocity” component
• It never changes, covers equal displacements in equal time
periods. This means the initial horizontal velocity equals the
final horizontal velocity. In other words, the
horizontal velocity is
CONSTANT. But why?
Gravity does not work
horizontally to increase or
decrease the velocity.
Vertical “velocity” component
• Changes (due to gravity), does NOT cover equal displacements
in equal time periods.
Both the MAGNITUDE and
DIRECTION change. As the projectile
moves up the MAGNITUDE
DECREASES and its direction is
UPWARD. As it moves down the
MAGNITUDE INCREASES and the
direction is DOWNWARD.
Combining the components

Component Magnitude Direction

These components
Horizontal Constant Constant produce what is called a
TRAJECTORY or
Vertical Changes Changes path.. This path is
PARABOLIC in
nature.
Horizontally launched projectiles
• Projectiles which have NO upward trajectory and NO initial
vertical velocity.
• To analyze a projectile in 2 dimensions we need 2 equations.
One for the “x” direction and one for the “y” direction.
Example 1:
• A plane travelling with a horizontal velocity of 100 m/s is 500 m
above the ground. At some point the pilot decides to drop some
supplies to designated target below. (a) How long is the drop in the
air? (b) How far away from point where it was launched will it land?
Given:
vox = 100 m/s, y = 500 m, voy = 0 m/s, g = 9.8 m/s2
t = ? And x = ?
Solution:
y = ½ gt2 x = voxt
500 m = ½ (9.8 m/s2)(t2) x = 100 m/s (10.10)
500 m = 4.9 m/s2(t2) x = 1010 m
102.0408163 s2 = t2
10.10152545 s = t
10.10 s = t
Vertically launched projectiles
• No vertical velocity at the top of the trajectory.
Component Magnitude Direction
Horizontal Constant Constant
Vertical Decreases Changes
up, 0 at top,
Increases
down
• Since the projectile was launched at an angle, the velocity
MUST be broken into components.
 There are several things you
must consider when doing
these types of projectiles
besides using components. If it
begins and ends at ground
level, the “y” displacement is
ZERO:
y=0
• We will use the kinematics, but we must use the
COMPONENTS in the equation.
Example 2:
•  A place kicker kicks a football with a velocity of 20 m/s and at
an angle of 53
a. How long is the ball in the air?
b. How far away does it land?
c. How high does it travel?
Components:
•vox  = vo cos voy = vo sin
vox = 20 cos 53 = 20 sin 53
vox = 12.03630046 = 15.9727102 m/s
vox = 12.04 m/s = 15.97 m/s
Given:
vox = 12.04 m/s Required:
voy = 15.97 m/s t = ?, x = ?, ymax = ?
y=0
g = 9.8 m/s2
Solution:
a. y = voyt + ½ gt2
0 = 15.97 m/s(t) + ½ (9.8 m/s2)(t2)
-15.97 m/s(t) = -4.9 m/s2(t2)
3.259183673 s = t
3.26 s = t
b. x = vox t
x = 12.04 m/s (3.26 s)
x = 39.2504 m
x = 39.25 m
c. y = voy t + ½ gt2
= (15.97 m/s)(1.63 s) + ½ (-9.8 m/s2)(1.63 s)2
= 26.0311 m - 13.01881 m
= 13.01229 m
= 13.01 m
Example 3:
• Anna drops a ball from rest from the top of 78.4 m high cliff. How much
time will it take to reach the ground and at what height will the ball be
after each second of motion?
Given:
y = 78.4 m
g = 9.8 m/s2
Solution:
Y = ½ gt2
78.4 m = ½ (9.8 m/s2)(t2)
78.4 m = 4.9 m/s2 (t2)
16 s = t2
4s=t
• The vertical displacement must then be subtracted from the initial height
of 78. 4 m.
• At t = 1 s, y = 4.9 m (down) so height is 73.5 m (78.4 m - 4.9 m )
• At t = 2 s, y = 19.6 m (down) so height is 58.8 m (78.4 m - 19.6 m )
• At t = 3 s, y = 44.1 m (down) so height is 34.3 m (78.4 m - 45 m)
• At t = 4 s, y = 78.4 m (down) so height is 0 m (78.4 m - 78.4 m)
Example 4:
• A water balloon is launched with a speed of 40 m/s at an angle of 60
degrees to the horizontal.
Solution:
• cos (60 deg) = vx / (40 m/s)
• vx = 40 m/s • cos (60 deg) = 20.0 m/s
• sin (60 deg) = vy / (40 m/s)
• vy = 40 m/s • sin (60 deg) = 34.6 m/s
Example 5:
• A springboard diver jumps with a velocity of 10 m/s at an angle of 80
degrees to the horizontal.
Solution:
• cos (80 deg) = vx / (10 m/s)
• vx = 10 m/s • cos (80 deg) = 1.7 m/s
• sin (80 deg) = vy / (10 m/s)
• vy = 10 m/s • sin (80 deg) = 9.8 m/s
Example 6:
• A pool ball leaves a 0.60-meter high table with an initial horizontal
velocity of 2.4 m/s. Predict the time required for the pool ball to fall to the
ground and the horizontal distance between the table's edge and the ball's
landing location.
Solution:
y = voy t + ½ gt2 x = vox t
0.60 m = 0 + ½ (9.8 m/s2) t2 x = 2.4 m/s (0.35 s)
0.60 m = 4.9 m/s2 (t2) x = 0.84 m
0.1224489796 s2 = t2
0.35 s = t
Example 7:
• A soccer ball is kicked horizontally off a 22.0-meter high hill and lands a
distance of 35.0 meters from the edge of the hill. Determine the initial
horizontal velocity of the soccer ball.
Solution:
x = vox t + ½ gt2 x = vox t
22 m = 0 m/s2 (t) + ½ (9.8 m/s2) t2 35 m = vox (2.12 s)
22 m = 4.9 m/s2 (t2) 16.51 m/s = vox
4.489795918 s2 = t2
2.12 s = t
THANK
YOU!!!