KINEMATICS :FREEFALL

(UARM along y-axis)

FREE FALLING BODY
A free falling body
is defined as a body
that is moving
freely under the
influence of gravity,
where it is assumed
that the effect of air
resistance is
negligible.
FREE FALL
All objects falling
near the earth’s
surface fall with a
constant
acceleration.

This acceleration is
called the
acceleration due to
gravity, and
indicated by g.
FREE FALL

The acceleration
is independent
of the object's
characteristics,
such as mass,
density, or
shape; it is the
same for all
objects.
FREE FALL

 The value of g varies

slightly with latitude and

THE ACCELERATION DUE TO

with elevation.
 At sea level in Earth's

GRAVITY
mid-latitudes the value of g
is 9.8 m/s2, -this is the value
which should be used for
the problems in this
g
subject.
FREE FALL
The four(4) kinematical
equations of motion (for
constant acceleration)
presented in the previous
lesson also apply to free-fall
near Earth's surface; that is
they apply to an object in
vertical flight, either up or
down, when the effects of the
air can be neglected.
FREE FALL
 However, note that for free fall:

 The directions of motions are

now along a vertical y axis
instead of the x-axis, with the
positive direction of y upward.
(Important for the next lesson,
which combines the motions
along the x and y axis).
FREE FALL
 The free fall acceleration is
now negative; that is
downward on the y-axis,
toward Earth's center, and so
it has a value of -g in the
equations.
UARM EQUATIONS
Missing Variable

• Equation 1 v=v0+at Δx

• Equation 2 Δx = ½ (v+v0) * t a

• Equation 3 v2=v02+2aΔx t

• Equation 4 Δx = v0t + ½ at2 v

 FREE-FALL EQUATIONS OF
MOTION
Missing Variable
• Equation 1 v=v0 - gt Δy

• Equation 2 Δy = ½ (v+v0) * t g

• Equation 3 v2=v02 -2gΔy t

• Equation 4 Δy = v0t - ½ gt2 v

IMPORTANT:
The free fall acceleration near the Earth's surface is a = -g = -
9.8 m/s2and the magnitude of the acceleration is g = 9.8 m/s2.
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE -9.8 m/s2 for g.
FREE FALL -- AN OBJECT DROPPED
1 2
 Initial velocity is zero y  at
y
2
 Frame: let up be a  9.8 m s 2
positive
 Use the kinematic x
equations vo= 0
 Generally use y a=g
instead
of x since vertical
FREE FALL -- AN OBJECT THROWN
DOWNWARD
 a=g
 With upward being
positive, acceleration
will be negative, g = -
9.8 m/s²
 Initial velocity  0
 With upward being
positive, initial velocity
will be negative
FREE FALL -- OBJECT THROWN UPWARD
 Initial velocity is
upward, so positive v=0
 The instantaneous
velocity at the
maximum height is
zero
 a = g everywhere in
the motion
 g is always
downward, negative
THROWN UPWARD
 The motion may be symmetrical
 then tup = tdown
 then vf = -vo
 The motion may not be symmetrical
 Break the motion into various parts
 generally up and down
SYMMETRICAL FREE FALL
EX. Tossing a ball
Suppose that you
toss a ball directly
upward with an
initial (+) velocity v0,
and then catch it
when it returns to
the release level.
EX.Tossing a ball
EX.Tossing a ball
NON-SYMMETRICAL FREE FALL
 Need to divide the motion into
segments
 Possibilities include
 Upward and downward
portions
 The symmetrical portion
back to the release point and
then the non-symmetrical
portion
EXAMPLE 1
A stone is dropped from a top of the
building 1000 m high.
a. How long does it take the stone to
reach the ground? (neglect air
resistance.)
b. What is its velocity when it
strikes the ground?
EXAMPLE 2
A stone thrown from the top of a building is given
an initial velocity of 20.0 m/s straight upward. The
building is 50.0 m high, and the stone just misses
the edge of the roof on its way down,. Using tA = 0 as
the time the stone leaves the thrower’s hand at
position (A) determine

a. the time at which the stone reaches its maximum

height,
b. the maximum height,
c. the time at which the stone returns to the height
from which it was thrown,
d. the velocity of the stone at this instant, and
e. the velocity and position of the stone at t = 5.00 s.
EXAMPLE 3 – X AND Y
 Carmi is on the 2nd floor of the PHYSCI
building. She wants to drop a raw egg directly
onto the head of one of her students. The top of
the student’s head is 45.6m below the 2nd floor
and the student walks at a constant velocity of
2.3m/s
 What is the distance from foot of the building
should the student be for Carmi to drop the egg
and hit the student?