Module 7

Kinematics – part 3
• Motion on a straight line
• Motion on a straight line with constant acceleration
• Motion under gravitational acceleration
• Motion in a plane
1
  We live in Earth, and all objects close to the Earth experience
Earth’s gravitational acceleration. If the objects are not far
(compared to Earth’s radius) from the Earth’s surface, the
gravitational acceleration can be assumed constant.
 Free fall acceleration also determines the weight of a body on
Earth’s surface.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 2

 A rocket must overcome Earth’s
Near Earth’s surface, objects fall with
gravity during the launching
constant acceleration under gravity.
process
Water in waterfall falls with
acceleration.
Motion under gravitational acceleration 3
 At the end of this section, you should be able to :
 Solve problems using equations that represent uniformly
accelerated motion in a straight line, including the motion of
bodies falling in a uniform gravitational field without
resistance
 Recall that the weight of a body is equal to the product of its
mass and the free fall acceleration
 Describe an experiment to determine the acceleration of
free fall using a falling body
 Describe qualitatively the motion of bodies falling in a
uniform gravitational field with air resistance

Motion under gravitational acceleration 4

 It was commonly thought that a heavier bodies
fell faster than light ones. This idea was a
consequence of air resistance effect. Until
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) suggested that in
the absence of air resistance :
 all bodies would fall with the same constant
acceleration
 showed mathematically,for a body falling from
rest, the distance is proportional to the square Pisa Leaning Tower
of the time.
 performed an experiment to test the
mathematical model on Pisa Leaning tower.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

Motion under gravitational acceleration 5

  Close to Earth, objects fall with the same uniform acceleration due
to Earth’s gravity. This acceleration is denoted by g has a value= 9.80
m/s2.

 This statement is particularly true if the air resistance may be

neglected.

 When the object falls without initial velocity it is called “free fall”

 Gravitational acceleration (g) provide the link between mass (m)

and its weight (W): W = mg

Motion under gravitational acceleration 6

In the absence of
air resistance a In the presence of
golf ball and a air resistance the
feather dropped golf ball will reach
V V the ground first.
from the same v
height will reach
the ground at the
same time
vacuum
V
air

Motion under gravitational acceleration 7

If the object is released without initial velocity from a certain height, it
will freely drop. In this case, it is more convenient to take downward
direction as (+) (thus g=9.8 m/s2 is positive).If S is the distance
travelled, and V is the velocity, the equations of motion are:

S=0
S= ½ g t2
g
V= gt
V
V =2gH
2

In this formula g = +9.8 m/s2

since its direction is downward
+ S

Motion under gravitational acceleration 8

 V-t S-t

25 25

20 20

15 15

S (m)
V (m/s)

10 10

5 5

0 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

t (s) t (s)

Distance travelled- time graph.

Velocity-time graph.

Notes: in this graphs downward direction has been taken as positive

direction
Motion under gravitational acceleration 9
A stone is released from rest at the edge of the roof-top building. If the
roof-top is 100m from the ground. How long for the stone to reach the
ground? What is its speed when it hits the gound? Neglect the air
resistance

Answer: S=0

Since the stone is 100m high, then distance

travelled till it hits the ground is S=100m.
The downward direction is chosen as V
positive, therefore g=9.8 m.s-2. g
S= ½ g t2  t =√(2S/g)
t =√(2*100/9.8)= 4.52 s (it is quick!)
The speed when it hits the ground:
V2 = 2 g H = 2*9.8*100= 1980 + S=100

V = √1980=44.5 m/s
Motion under gravitational acceleration 10
 Since g is large (about 10 m/s2) it will only take very short time for an object
to cover a distance of a few meters. Therefore an experiment to directly
measure the time needed will need an accurate instrument. Stop watch
operated by a person will produce large error in timing due to human
reaction time.

Electromagnet

Steel ball  The basic principle of this

On/off
experiment is to use photogate
timer to measure time accurately.
Digital
 Use electromagnet to hold a steel
D=distance
Timer ball
 The ball is released from rest

Photogate

Motion under gravitational acceleration 11

 Electromagnet
Steps:
 When an on/off button is activated
Steel ball
On/off the stell ball is released by
electromagnetic mechanism.
 The photogate records the time
Digital
Timer
D=distance when the ball passes, t
 The distance between the ball
initial position and the photogate is
Photogate measured : D
 Repeat the experiment for different
D

Since the ball is released from rest :

D = ½ g t2  g = 2D/t2

Motion under gravitational acceleration 12

 If the experiment is repeated many times then the plot of D vs t2 will
enable us to compute g from the slope.

•Plot D vs t2
•Draw the best straight line D
passing through the points
•Compute the slope ∆D

•Compute g
∆t2
D = ½ g t2
t2
g = 2 (∆D/ ∆t )2

Motion under gravitational acceleration 13

 If H is the height of an object thrown upward with initial velocity u, it will
experience gravitational acceleration (downward!). Thus, initially it
will slow down the object until it reaches the maximum, and then drop
down with faster and faster velocity. If the initial velocity is u, while V
is the velocity at time t, then taking the upward direction as positive
direction:

+ H
H= u t + ½ g t2

V= u +gt
U
V2 = u 2 + 2 g H

H=0
In this formula g = - 9.8 m/s2 since its
direction is downward g

Motion under gravitational acceleration 14

 H-t V-t

50 40
30
40
20
30 10
H (m)

V (m/s)
0
20
-10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10 -20

0 -30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 -40

t (s) t (s)

The velocity is steadily decreasing since the gravitation acceleration is the

opposite of the initial velocity. In this illustration at t=3 the velocity is 0
and the object reaches its maximum height. After that the velocity is
increasing in negative direction (downward), and the object’s height is
decreasing.
Notes: in this graphs upward direction has been taken as positive
direction
Motion under gravitational acceleration 15
 A cricketer throws a ball vertically upward with initial velocity 18 m/s. (a)
How high does the ball go? (b) how long is it before it returns to the
cricketer’s hand ?

Answer.

a. First, here we take upward as positive direction, therefore the initial

velocity is +, u = 18 m/s and g=-9.8m/s2.

V2 = u2 + 2gH . At the maximum height V=0m/s, therefore

0 = u2 +2gH, or H = V02/2g = 182/(2*9.8) = 16.5m.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 16

 Answer.

b. The ball returns to the hand, then H =0, but:

H = ut + ½ gt2
0 = 18t +1/2 (-9.8) t2 = 18t - 4.95t2 = t (18 -4.95t)

Solving for t, there are 2 possibilities: t = 0 (that is when the ball is leaving
the hand and t = 18/4.95 = 3.7s which is when the ball return to the hand.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 17

 In the presence of air resistance, when an object falls
a. In the beginning, it accelerates = g
b. But as its speed increases, the force of air resistance increases with speed
(but in opposite direction).
c. As a result the acceleration decreases, less than g.
d. Thus, the speed increases with smaller and smaller acceleration.
e. Finally, the air resistance force is as large as the gravitational force (the
object’s weight). At this point, there is no more acceleration (=0), and the
object reach its final velocity called the terminal velocity.
f. Now the object falls with constant speed.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 18

 Acceleration - time Velocity - time Terminal
velocity
12 45
40
10
35
8 30
25
a (m/s2)

V (m/s)
6
20
4 15
10
2
5
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20

t (s) t (s)

Motion under gravitational acceleration 19

 Sky divers and parachutist utilize the air friction to control their
falling movement.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 20

 Water flowing out of a water tap,
experience gravity acceleration.

Skiers utilize gravitational

acceleration during a downhill
trip.
A deceptive flying giant water tap.
Can you explain it?

Motion under gravitational acceleration 21

  Objects near Earth’s surface experience uniform constant acceleration

 Uniformly accelerated motion equations can be used to analyze the

motion. When an object is thrown upward with initial velocity u (take as
positive direction, so g= -9.8 m/s2) :

 H = ut + ½ g t2
 V = u + gt
 V2 = u2 + 2gH

where H is the height and V is the velocity.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 22

  Releasing an object from rest – a free fall (taking the downward as
positive direction, g=9.8 m/s2 ):

 S=½gt
 V = gt
 V2 = 2gS

Where S is the distance travelled (not height!), and V is the velocity.

 When air resistance cannot be neglected, it causes the acceleration to

decrease until zero. Finally, the velocity reaches the maximum value
called the terminal velocity, and then the object moves with constant
terminal velocity.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 23

Module 7

Kinematics – part 3: Exercises

• Motion on a straight line
• Motion on a straight line with constant acceleration
• Motion under gravitational acceleration
• Motion in a plane
24
  Raindrops fall 1500 m from a cloud to the ground. If they were not
slowed by the air resistance, how fast in (km/hour) would the drops when
they hit the ground? Assume the raindrops start from rest.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 25

 An object falls from rest. Neglecting the air resistance and the downward
direction is taken as the positive direction. Which of the graphs describe the
distance (S) vs time (t) traveled by the object.

A S B
S

0
0
0 t
0 t
C S D
S

0 0
0 t 0 t
Motion under gravitational acceleration 26
 x
A steel ball is released from rest. At distance x
below the release point, there is the first Photogate 1

photogate, the second photogate is located at a

distance h below the first one. If x = 20 cm, and
h= 80 cm. How long it takes for the steel ball to h
travel between photogate-1 and photogate-2?
Photogate 2

Motion under gravitational acceleration 27

 An parachutist jumps from rest from the top of a high rise building.
Considering the air resistance and the downward direction is taken as the
positive direction. Which of the graphs describe the speed (V) vs time (t) during
the fall.

A V B
V

0
0
0 t
0 t
C D
V V
0 t

0
0 t
Motion under gravitational acceleration 28
 Susan throws a golf ball upward, 2.2 s later she catches the ball at the
same height as when the ball left the her hand. What is the speed of the
ball when it leaves Susan’s hand? What is the maximum height reached
by the ball?

Motion under gravitational acceleration 29

Module 7

Kinematics – part 3:
Solved Exam Questions and
Further Exercises
• Motion on a straight line
• Motion on a straight line with constant acceleration
• Motion under gravitational acceleration
• Motion in a plane
30
 A student measures the time t for a ball to fall from rest through a vertical
distance h. Knowing that the equation h=1/2 gt2 applies, the student plots
the graph show.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 31

 Which of the following is an explanation for the intercept on the t axis?
A Air resistance has not been taken into account for larger
values of h.
B There is a constant delay between starting the timer and
releasing the ball.
C There is an error in the timer that consistently makes it run fast.
D The student should have plotted h against t2.

Answer :

The correct answer is B. It happens to all measurement, apparently when

the timer starts the ball is not released yet. After some delay (which is the
same for all measurement) the ball is released, thus h=0, when t is already
has a value. This explains why the t intercept is not at t=0, when h=0.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 32

 Two markers M1 and M2 are set up a vertical distance h apart.

When a steel ball is released from rest from a point a distance x above M1,
it is found that the ball takes time t1 to reach M1 and time t2 to reach M2.
Which expression gives the acceleration of the ball?
2h 2h 2h 2h
A
t 22
B
t22  t12  C
t 2  t1 
2 D
t2  t1 
Motion under gravitational acceleration 33
 Answer:
Since the ball is released from rest, the velocities at t1 and at t2 are given
by:
V1 = a t 1 V2 = a t 2
But, V1 and V2 are related with the distance h via:
V22 = V12 + 2 a h
Substituting V1 and V2 into this last equation gives:
(at2)2 = (at1)2 + 2 a h
a2 (t22 – t12) = 2 ah
a { a(t22 – t12) -2 h} = 0
Two possible solution a = 0 (not valid in this case), and
Motion underagravitational
= 2h/ (t22 – t1acceleration
2
) Therefore the correct answer is B 34
 A body falls from rest in a vacuum near Earth’s surface. The variation
with time t of its speed v is shown in the graph.

Which of the following graphs shows the variation with time t of the
speed v of the same ball falling in air at the same place on Earth?

Motion under gravitational acceleration 35

Motion under gravitational acceleration 36
 Answer:
The effect of air resistance is to slow down the increasing rate (slope )
of the velocity-time graph. Thus initially the velocity increases similar
to a free fall but then due to increasing resistance the increase is
slowing down until the velocity settle to a constant terminal velocity.
Thus the answer is graph A.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 37

 An object falls 10.0m from rest before entering some water. Assuming
negligible air resistance, what is the time taken to reach the water and the
speed with which the object reaches the water?

Time (s) Speed (ms-1)

A 1.02 10.0
B 1.02 14.0
C 1.43 10.0
D 1.43 14.0

Motion under gravitational acceleration 38

 Answer:

This is a free fall with initial speed = 0.

Since the height of the object is S=10.0m, the time needed to cover this
distance is
S = ½ g t2, or
t = √ (2S/g) = √ (2*10.0/9.8) = √ 2.04 = 1.43 s
The speed V when the object hit the water after travelling S=10.0m is given
by:
V2 = 2 g S = 2*9.8*10 = 196
V = √196 = 14 ms-1
The correct answer is D
Motion under gravitational acceleration 39
  A football is dropped from the top of a tall building. Which acceleration-
time graph best represent the motion of the football through the air?

Answer:

Since the football

experience a free fall
under gravity with
constant acceleration
(neglecting the effect
of winds and air
friction). Thus the
correct answer is B

Motion under gravitational acceleration 40

 A stone is thrown vertically upwards. A student plots the variation
with time of its velocity.

What is the vertical displacement of the stone from its starting point
after 5 seconds?
A 20m B 25m C 45m D 65m
Motion under gravitational acceleration 41
 A boy throws a ball vertically upwards. It rises to a maximum height,
where it is momentarily at rest, and then falls back to his hand.
Which of the following gives the acceleration of the ball at various
stages in its motion? Take vertically upwards as positive. Neglect air
resistance.

rising At max falling

height
A -9.81ms-2 0 9.81ms-2
B -9.81ms-2 -9.81ms-2 -9.81ms-2
C 9.81ms-2 9.81ms-2 9.81ms-2

D 9.81ms-2 0 -9.81ms-2

Motion under gravitational acceleration 42

 A tennis ball is released from rest at the top of a tall building.
Which graph best represents the variation with time t of the
acceleration a of the ball as it falls, assuming that the effects of air
resistance are appreciable?

Motion under gravitational acceleration 43

 A ball is released from rest above a horizontal surface. The graph
shows the variation with time of its velocity.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 44

 Areas X and Y are equal. This is because:
A. The ball’s acceleration is the same during its upward and
downward motion.
B. The speed at which the ball leaves the surface after an impact
is equal to the speed at which it returns to the surface for the next
impact.
C. For one impactr, the speed at which the ball hits the surface
equal the speed at which it leaves the surface.
D. the ball rises and falls through the same distance between
impact.

Motion under gravitational acceleration 45

 The graph relates to the motion of a falling body.

Which is a correct description of the graph?

A y is distance and air resistance is negligible
B y is distance and air resistance is not negligible
C y is the speed and air resistance is negligible
D y is the speed and air resistance is not negligible
Motion under gravitational acceleration 46
 As a runaway scientific balloon ascends at 19.6 m/s, one of its
instrument package breaks free of a harness and free falls. The
following graph gives the vertical velocity of the package versus
time, from before it breaks free to when it reaches the ground.
a) What maximum height above the break-free point does it rise?
b) How high is the break-free point above the ground?
V

0 2 4 6 8 t(s)

Motion under gravitational acceleration 47