Module 4.2
Drag forces, projectiles &
modelling motion
4.2.G Drag, projectiles & modelling motion
Topic Notes
Name:__________
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
www.alevelphysicsonline.com/motion
www.aquinasphysics.com/kerboodle
https://isaacphysics.org/
www.gojimo.com/
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Studentship checklist
Tick the boxes when you have completed each of the tasks to do with this topic:
Have you…
Completed the notes in this booklet so that all important details are recorded?
Answered all the questions in the main part of this booklet, practising the key skills needed
Made further notes from Prezis / videos / other sources in the spaces provided throughout the booklet
Completed and marked the homework booklet(s) associated with this topic?
Watched the video explaining all the questions on the homework(s) on this topic and taken detailed notes
of any corrections?
Found extra questions related to this topic to answer (e.g. on IsaacPhysics ; physicsandmathstutor.com ; the
stretch & challenge questions at the front of each physics lab.)?
Made revision resources for this topic (mind-maps / flashcards etc.)?
Found some stretch & challenge questions to practice at the front of the physics lab?
Which are the trickiest parts of this topic that you will focus your revision on when it comes to exam time?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Table of Contents
Studentship checklist ................................................................................................................................................. - 3 -
Learning Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... - 6 -
1. Projectile motion ................................................................................................................................................ - 9 -
The independence of vertical & horizontal motion.................................................................................................. - 9 -
Describing horizontal motion............................................................................................................................... - 9 -
Describing vertical motion ................................................................................................................................... - 9 -
Projectile problems ................................................................................................................................................ - 10 -
Some rules for solving projectile problems ....................................................................................................... - 10 -
Refresher: SUVAT equations ............................................................................................................................ - 11 -
Some example projectile problems ........................................................................................................................ - 12 -
Projectile problems A: Objects thrown and landing from the same level .......................................................... - 12 -
Projectile problems B: Objects thrown horizontally from a platform ................................................................ - 13 -
Projectile problems C: Objects thrown up to horizontal .................................................................................... - 14 -
Isaac physics questions on Trajectories / projectile motion ............................................................................... - 15 -
2. Terminal velocity & drag ................................................................................................................................ - 15 -
Terminal velocity ................................................................................................................................................... - 15 -
Weight vs. Mass ..................................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
Drag forces ............................................................................................................................................................. - 16 -
An example question.......................................................................................................................................... - 17 -
An example exam question on drag forces ........................................................................................................ - 18 -
Terminal velocity of falling cupcake cases ............................................................................................................ - 20 -
3. Modelling Motion ................................................................................................................................................ - 22 -
A simple example of a computational model of a projectile ................................................................................. - 22 -
A more complex example of modelling an object in free-fall ............................................................................... - 24 -
An example exam question ................................................................................................................................ - 25 -
Mastery Questions ................................................................................................................................................... - 27 -
Isaac physics questions on Trajectories / projectile motion ............................................................................... - 28 -
Space for your own notes......................................................................................................................................... - 31 -
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Learning Objectives
(a) Describe and explain
(ii) the trajectory of a body moving under constant acceleration, in one or TWO dimensions
investigating terminal velocity with experiments such as dropping a ball-bearing in a viscous liquid of
(iii)
dropping paper cones in air
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
We have previously looked at examples of problems involving motion where we have simplified matters in two separate
ways:
1. We have assumed so far, that the effects of air resistance are negligible.
2. We have restricted the problems we have looked at to one dimension – that is motion along a single line.
In treating these problems, we have been able to use the SUVAT equations of motion. However, there will be cases
when we will want to look at more complex situations – either where we will need to consider the effects of drag forces
on the motion of an object, or where we will need to consider motion in more than one dimension.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
1. Projectile motion
The independence of vertical & horizontal motion
The video at goo.gl/o9Acw7 discusses the Monkey Hunter conundrum (QR code left), a classic Physics
thought-experiment highlighting how vertical and horizontal motion are independent of each other.
The image below shows the motion of a dirt-bike rider as they complete a jump through the air. Each consecutive image
is taken at a constant time interval.
STATE and EXPLAIN what the image tells you about the
nature of an object’s HORIZONTAL motion as it flies
through the air.
The image right shows the motion of a diver as they fall through the air. Again, each consecutive image is taken at a
constant time interval.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
STATE and EXPLAIN what the image tells you about the nature of an object’s VERTICAL motion
as it flies through the air.
Projectile problems
Three excellent videos from www.alevelphysicsonline.com describe how to solve projectile problems.
These can be found on the youtube playlist at goo.gl/mSiYgU (see QR code right)
As can be seen from the image right of a tennis ball, the conclusions drawn about
horizontal and vertical motion on the previous page hold true for any object
undergoing projectile motion.
As such, we ALWAYS treat the horizontal and vertical components of an object’s
motion separately.
In the first instance, we will look at these projectile problems with the assumption
that air resistance is negligible:
In the Prezi, four rules (or stages to follow) are stated to help you solve projectile problems. These are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
To solve projectiles, you will need to make use of the SUVAT equations that we covered in the first two weeks of the
course. State the four SUVAT equations below:
v= s=
in terms of u, a and t in terms of u, v and t
2
v = s=
in terms of u, a and s in terms of u, a and t
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Projectile problems A: Objects thrown and landing from the same level
(1) A javelin is thrown at 25 m s-1 at an angle of 40o with the horizontal. How far does it go (assume it lands and
takes off from the same height)
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
(1) A stone is projected horizontally from a 180 m cliff with a horizontal velocity of 20 m s-1,
before hitting the sea. Calculate:
(a) The distance the stone lands from the base of the cliff
(b) The velocity (speed and angle to the water surface) with which it hits the water
Distance = ……………….. m
(2) Suppose that an airplane flying at 60 m s-1 at a height of 300 m dropped a sack of flour. How far from the point of
release would the sack have travelled when it struck the ground?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
(1) Some errant youths are throwing stones at a nearby abandoned building.
One throws a stone with a speed of 25 m s-1 at an angle of 55o to
horizontal. At the very peak of its journey it just reaches the roof of the
building. Calculate:
height = ……………….. m
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
distance = …………….. m
1. Go to the page at isaacphysics.org/questions/ch_b_p4 (QR code right) and answer the questions.
It should take you 30-40 minutes. You will need paper and pen to work out the solutions to the
questions out before entering your answer into the browser.
2. Please complete this for the deadline that your teacher sets you:
3. Use the space at the back of this pack for your
working then input your answer to the Isaac physics
Deadline for this piece of work:……………………
website linked to above.
For the vast majority of cases, we ignore any effects of air resistance when tracking or modelling an object’s motion. In
reality, however, we often have to consider how air resistance and drag forces will actually affect an object’s motion.
Terminal velocity
Shown right is the displacement-time graph of an object falling from rest.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
(2) In the space below, draw three labelled free-body diagrams showing the
size of different forces acting on the object at different stages of its
journey (positions 1, 2 and 3 on the graph)
Drag forces
There are a number of factors affecting the size of the drag force experienced by an object moving through a fluid.
Suggest some of these factors in the space below:
Factors impacting the size of the drag force experienced by an object moving through a fluid.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
𝐹𝑑 =
general relationship between the velocity v than an object moves
at and the size of the drag force Fd it experiences:
*You will not be expected to recall this in an exam, but you may
State the equation for the drag force Fd acting on an object be expected to work with this equation, or one which is similar.
falling through a fluid:
An example question
Find the terminal velocity of a 2.0 mm diameter (spherical) raindrop, given that the drag coefficient Cd is 0.5. Assume
that g = 9.81 m s-2. (density of air = 1.23 kg m-3)
To help:
1. At terminal velocity, what do you know about the relative sizes of the weight and drag force?
2(i)
𝒎=
2. Which equations: 2(ii)
(i) link an object’s mass m to its volume V and density ?
(ii) gives the volume V of a sphere? 𝑽=
𝝆𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 =
3
3. What is the density of water? kg m -3
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
This question is about energy losses from a moving vehicle caused by forcing the air in front of it out of its way.
The figure below shows a bus moving at constant velocity v along a straight, level road through still air. The bus is
modelled as having a uniform cross-section.
The effects of a streamlined shape on the drag forces have been ignored in this model.
(a) The cross-sectional area of the bus is A. Use appropriate algebraic equations to explain why the mass m of air
displaced by the bus in a time t is given by
𝒎 = 𝝆𝑨𝒗𝒕
where is the density of the air.
[2]
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
(b) In this model, the air displaced by the bus is forced to move at the same speed v as the bus. Show that the kinetic
energy Ek gained by the air displaced in time t is given by
1
𝐸𝑘 = 𝜌 𝐴 𝜈 3 𝑡
2
[1]
(c) Use the equation given in (b) to calculate the power dissipated into the air when a bus of cross-sectional area 9.0
m2 travels at a constant speed of 20 m s-1 ( = 1.2 kg m-3)
(d) A typical car carries two or three people while a typical coach carries 45 people. Discuss the advantages &
disadvantages of travelling between towns by these different methods.
You should include comparisons of energy losses and other factors of importance for travellers.
[4]
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Outline any further steps that you could have taken in order to further improve this method.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Explain the data collected and how you obtained the terminal velocity from the data logging software. A sketch graph
would help with your explanation.
Explain how you tested to see if the square of the terminal velocity was proportional to the mass of the cases dropped.
1 2𝑔
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔 ; 𝑚 𝑔 = 𝐶𝑑 𝜌𝑎 𝐴 𝑣 2 ; 𝑣 2 = (𝐶 ) 𝑚
2 𝑑 𝜌𝑎 𝐴
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
3. Modelling Motion
Pages 178-183 in the course textbook will help you in understanding the following section (goo.gl/t7WBkx), see
QR code right.
In some questions you may be asked to work with an ITERATIVE COMPUTATIONAL MODEL that describes
motion.
EXPLAIN what is meant by the term ITERATIVE, and how computational models work.
3. assume that the object travels a displacement s1 over the time step, found by s1 = v t
4. find the new displacement at the start of the next time step, s2, by adding the displacement at the start
of time step 1 to displacement travelled over the duration of timestep 1: s2 = s1 + s1
5. Repeat this process for a number of time steps.
For objects under constant acceleration (e.g. under the action of gravity), the model can track both the
variation of the objects velocity and displacement through time.
o To track velocity:
1. find/record the velocity of the object at the start of time step 1, v1
2. find the acceleration of the object, a
3. assume that the object undergoes a change in velocity v1 over the time step, found by v1 = at
4. find the new velocity at the start of the next time-step, v2, by adding the velocity at the start of time step
1 to the change in velocity over the duration of the timestep: v2 = v1 + v1
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Complete the table below to model the motion of the crazy young daredevil
shown in the image right.
You need to fill in the boxes in the shaded areas.
Some hints on the equations you need to use are given at the top of each
column.
The cliff height is 10 m and he takes a running leap horizontally at a velocity of
2 m s-1. Assume the effect of air resistance is negligible.
0.0 0.2 0.00 2.0 0.40 0.00 0.00 -9.8 -1.96 0.00
0.2 0.2 0.40 2.0 0.40 0.00 -1.96 -9.8 -1.96 -0.39
0.4 0.2 0.80 2.0 0.40 -0.39 -3.92 -9.8 -1.96 -0.78
We can use the model above to find out, for example, approximately how far away from the cliff edge the jumper is
when he hits the sea, or what time it takes for him to complete the jump etc.
Time taken to complete the jump = …………… s
Distance from the cliff when the jumper hits the sea = ………………. m
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
(2) How can ITERATIVE COMPUTATIONAL MODELS be altered to generate results closer to the actual outcome?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Mastery Questions
These questions have their background in the ethos that anything is hard when you don’t spend much time on
it, and that things become much easier the more your practice. You will know this if you are learning to drive,
or when you pick up any other new skill for the first time. I would say that playing the piano is really really
hard. But I’ve probably not spent more than a few hours when I was very young trying. Someone who has spent hours
practising playing the piano would probably tell you that it is easy as it comes naturally to them – neglecting to mention
all the hours of practice that they have put in.
PHYSICS IS NO DIFFERENT!! THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE BETTER YOU GET.
Have a go at the mastery questions on the following pages. You can input your answers and check they are right on the
isaacphysics.org website (see separate links for each section). You should be aiming to get correct at least the number
given at the top of each section before you can consider yourself to have mastered each of these core concepts.
1. Go to the page at isaacphysics.org/questions/ch_b_p4 (QR code right) and answer the questions.
It should take you 30-40 minutes. You will need paper and pen to work out the solutions to the
questions out before entering your answer into the browser.
2. Please complete this for the deadline that your teacher sets you:
3. Use the space at the back of this pack for your
working then input your answer to the Isaac physics
Deadline for this piece of work:……………………
website linked to above.
** For the following questions, DRAW THE DIAGRAM and follow the stages suggested on p.8 of this booklet.
Skills mastery 12/15
B4.1 to B4.10
Complete the values in the table below, assuming that all projectiles are launched horizontally and fall downwards with
an acceleration of 9.8 m s-2.
Horizontal distance / m Horizontal speed / m s-1 Time to reach target / s Distance fallen / m
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
Horizontal distance / m Horizontal speed / m s-1 Time to reach target / s Distance fallen / m
B4.11 You are trying to shoot horizontally at a target 30 m away with a gun which fires a bullet at 150 m s -1. How high
must the gun be above the target in order to hit it?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
B4.12 You are trying to drop essential survival supplies from an aeroplane to help the survivors of a crash who are
stranded. You are flying 300 m above them, and your aircraft can travel no slower than 30 m s -1. You fly on a
straight line which will pass over the survivors. How far (in metres) in advance of the survivors do you need to
drop the package?
B4.13 A rugby player is aiming for a conversion. He kicks the ball at 15 m s -1 at an angle of 50o to the horizontal. At
the time, he is 20 m from the posts. How much time will the ball take to reach the posts?
B4.14 How high will the ball in question B4.13 be when it reaches the posts?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
B4.15 A cricket batsman hits a ball at a speed of 27 m s-1 at an angle of 60o to the horizontal. How far away would you
have to stand in order to catch it, assuming you want to catch it just before it hits the ground?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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Aquinas College Physics Module 4.2: Space, Time & Motion
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