Motion of a
Freely
Falling Body
Objectives
► Apply all the equation for motion of an
object in free fall.
► To solve problems on free falling bodies
and the acceleration of gravity.
Galileo
►The remarkable
observation that all
free falling objects
fall at the same rate
was first proposed
by Galileo, nearly
400 years ago.
►Galileoconducted experiments
using a ball on an inclined plane to
determine the relationship between
the time and distance traveled.
Galileo
►He found that
the distance
depended on the
square of the
time and that
the velocity
increased as the
ball moved
down the
incline.
Galileo
► Galileo Galilei was also the
first to make an analysis of
the motion of free falling
objects.
► He dropped a heavy object
and a light object at the
same time from the
overhanging ledge of the
tower of Pisa. He
observed that these two
objects hit the ground at
the same time.
Galileo
► Based on his experimentations, Galileo
concluded that all objects on earth in the
absence of air resistance would fall with
the same constant acceleration due to
gravity.
► Historical measurements showed that
this constant acceleration due to gravity
is equal to 9.8 m/s2 (at sea level).
► This acceleration is represented by the
symbol g and is directed downward.
Introduction to Free Fall
► A free-falling object is an object which is
falling under the sole influence of gravity.
► That is to say that any object which is moving
and being acted upon only by the force of
gravity is said to be "in a state of free fall."
► This definition of free fall leads to two
important characteristics about a free-falling
object:
Free-falling objects do not encounter air
resistance.
All free-falling objects (on Earth) accelerate
downwards at a rate of 9.8 m/s/s or
32ft/s/s
Freely Falling Body
► The acceleration of freely falling body
is so important that physicist called it
acceleration due to gravity.
► From the definition of acceleration,
we now define g as
g = Vf – Vi (eq. 4.5)
t
Freely Falling Body
► For objects that fall freely, Vi = 0.
For a body thrown downward or
upward, Vi is not equal to zero. From
the equation for g, you can now solve
for Vf, the final velocity. Thus we
have
Vf = Vi + gt (eq. 4.6)
Freely Falling Body
► Thevelocity of a free falling object
increases at uniform rate. In this
case, the average velocity will be
halfway between the initial and final
velocities. In symbols,
V = Vi + Vf (eq. 4.7)
2
Freely Falling Body
► Thisexpression, together with the 4.3
and 4.6 may be used in finding the
equation for the displacement of a
free falling object.
V=d (eq. 4.3)
t
d = Vt
Freely Falling Body
► Substitute equation 4.7 for V:
d = (Vi + Vf/2) t
► Then substitute equation 4.6 for Vf:
d = (Vi + Vi + gt/2)t
d = (2Vi + gt/2)t
► Simplify the equation:
d = Vit + gt2 (4.8)
2
Freely Falling Body
► Substitute t using equation 4.5:
t = Vf - Vi
g
► Substitute equation for t:
in d = (Vi + Vf/2)t
so, d = (Vi +Vf/2)(Vf – Vi/g)
► Simplify the equation to obtain:
d = Vf2 – Vi2
2g
► Solve for Vf2:
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2gd (eq. 4.9)
Freely Falling Body
► You now have the three important
equations that will help you solve problems
on motion of a free falling object.
Vf = Vi + gt (4.6)
d = Vit + gt2 (4.8)
2
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2gd (4.9)
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:
A ball is dropped from the window of
a three-storey apartment. How far
has it fallen after one second? What
is the ball’s velocity after one second
of fall? How far does the ball fall
during the next second? Assume no
air resistance.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:
Carlo threw a ball upward with an initial velocity of 2000 m/s
and was able to catch it before it reached the ground on its
return.
a. What was its velocity after 1 s?
b. What was its displacement after the 1st second?
c. How long did it take the ball to reach its maximum
height?
d. How far was the maximum height from the starting
point?
e. What was its final velocity just before it touched Carlo’s
hand?
f. If the ball reach a point of 1000 cm above Carlo’s hand,
what is the ball’s final velocity on its way down Carlo’s
hand?
c. An object thrown upward will reach a
certain point (maximum height) where it will
momentarily stop and then start to move
downward. At this point, V=0.
e. The final velocity has the magnitude as
the initial velocity when the ball returns to its
starting point V = Vi = 2000 cm/s (V before
touching Carlo’s hands)
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:
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?
