FREE FALL

MOTION
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
LEARNING COMPETENCY
• Solve for unknown quantities in equations involving one-
dimensional uniformly accelerated motion , including free fall
motion.
(STEM_GP12KINIb-17)

• Solve problems involving one dimensional motion with

constant acceleration in contexts such as free-fall problems.
(STEM_GP12Kin-Ib-19)
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Apply the four major kinematic equations of

uniformly accelerated linear motion to free
fall.

• Calculate unknown quantities in problems

that involve free fall motion.
 1

FREE
FALL
 Did you know?

● Aristotle speculated that heavy objects fall faster

than the lighter ones.
● Galileo Galilei challenged the idea using two
cannonballs of different sizes.
● He tried dropping them simultaneously off of the
Leaning Tower of Pisa and found out that they fell
at exactly the same rate: that is, – 9.8 m/s2.
 Galile
o
Galile
i
Created the first telescope and was able to establish the mathematical
relationship between distance and time using his thought experiment.
For any object that has fallen
from rest, the distance that
it will cover will be
proportional to the square of
the time it has taken to fall.
― Galileo Galilei
 All objects on the Earth’s
surface will fall with equal
and constant acceleration in
the absence of air and other
forms of resistance.
― Galileo Galilei
 FREE FALLING BODIES

● Falling objects and those projected linearly

upward.
● Motion is called “FREE FALL” because the only
force acting on these objects is the
gravitational attraction of the earth or
gravity.
Characteristics of free fall motion

● Exhibit linear motion or motion in straight

path.
● Speed is decreasing on motion upward until
it is zero at the maximum height.
● Speed is increasing on motion downward,
maximum before it hit the ground.
 Characteristics of free fall
motion

● If object is thrown upward, a maximum height is

reached in a given period time.
● Speed is changing therefore; the object is
accelerated throughout the motion.
● Acceleration (g) is constant and equals to 9.8
m/s2 and always directed downward. (-9.8m/s2)
 Velocity Distance from initial position
Time
(Vf = Vi + at) d = Vit + ½ at2

0 0 m/s 0m

1 - 9.8 m/s 4.9 m

2 -19.6 m/s 19.6 m

3 -29.4 m/s 44.1 m

4 -39.2 m/s 78.4 m

EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN FREE
FALL
𝑀𝑂𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 𝐷𝑂𝑊𝑁𝑊𝐴𝑅𝐷
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛
1 2
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑑 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2 2 2
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 2𝑎(−𝑑) 2 2
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
𝑑=
2𝑎
EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN FREE FALL

𝑀𝑂𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 𝐷𝑂𝑊𝑁𝑊𝐴𝑅𝐷
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
𝑡=
𝑎 𝑦=ℎ − 𝑑

2(−𝑑)
𝑡=
𝑎
EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN FREE FALL

𝑀𝑂𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 𝑈𝑃𝑊𝐴𝑅𝐷
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑
1 2
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 𝑑 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡
2 2 2
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 2𝑎𝑑 2 2
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
𝑑=
2𝑎
EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN FREE FALL

𝑀𝑂𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 𝑈𝑃𝑊𝐴𝑅𝐷
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑝 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 𝑦=ℎ − 𝑑
𝑡=
𝑎
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ −𝑣𝑖
𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑝 =
𝑎
 Try it
yourself!
 PROBLEM 1
Golf ball A is dropped 20 m from the ground. At the
same time golf ball B is thrown downward at an
initial velocity of 3 m/s. For these 2 balls, determine
and compare:
a. speed 1 second after release.
b. speed when it strike the ground.
c. time for the balls to reach the ground.
 PROBLEM 2
A ball dropped from the roof of a
building takes 4.0 seconds to
reach the street below. How high
is the building?
 PROBLEM 3
A ball dropped from the cliff 490
m above the base. How long does
the stone take to fall?
 PROBLEM 4
A 14-kg object is dropped from
rest. How far will it be in 3
seconds?
 PROBLEM 5
A stone fell from a 4.5-m ledge
from rest. How much time will it
take to fall on the ground and
what will be its final velocity?
 PROBLEM 6
A ball is popped straight up into the air at the initial
speed of 40m/s.
a. What is the speed of the ball after 2s?
b. How high did it rise in the 2s – interval?
c. How long will take to reach the highest
point?
d. What is the maximum height?
 PROBLEM 7
A stone is projected upward with an initial speed of
30 m/s.
a. What is the speed of the stone after 2s?
b. What is the maximum height it reached?
c. How long for the stone to reach max. height?
 PROBLEM 8
A ball is thrown upward and takes 6s to reach
maximum height.
a. With what initial speed was it thrown?
b. How many meters is the max. height?
 PROBLEM 9
Joebelyn Bellosilo accidentally drops her
phone from the top of a roof located 8.52
meters above the ground. Determine the
time required for her phone to reach the
ground.
 PROBLEM 10
Princess Jiloma throws Juriel’s eyeglasses
vertically upwards with an initial
velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine the
height to which the eyeglasses will rise
above its initial height.
 PROBLEM 6
A construction worker accidentally
drops a brick from a high scaffold.
a. What is the velocity of the brick
after 4.0 s?
b. How far does the brick fall during
this time?
 PROBLEM 7
A tennis ball is thrown straight up with an
initial speed of 22.5 m/s. It is caught at the
same distance above the ground.

a. How high does the ball rise?

b. How long does the ball remain in the
air?
 PROBLEM 8
You decide to flip a coin to determine whether to do your
physics or English homework first. The coin is flipped straight
up.

a. What is the velocity of the coin at the top of its trajectory?

b. If the coin reaches a high point of 0.25 m above where you
released it, what was its initial speed?
c. If you catch it at the same height as you released it, how
much time did it spend in the air?
 PROBLEM 9
Suppose a free-fall ride at an amusement
park starts at rest and is in free fall. What is
the velocity of the ride after 2.3 s? How far do
people on the ride fall during the 2.3-s time
period?
 PROBLEM 10
You throw a beanbag in the air and catch it
2.2 s later at the same place at which you
threw it.

a. How high did it go?

b. What was its initial velocity?
 2

PROJECTILE
MOTION
 LEARNING COMPETENCY

• Deduce the consequences of the independence of

vertical and horizontal components of projectile
motion
(STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-22)
• Calculate range, time of flight, and maximum heights
of projectiles
(STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-23)
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• define projectile motion;

• identify the characteristics of a projectile
motion
• calculate for range, time, and maximum
heights
• Solve problems involving projectile motion.
PROJECTILE MOTION

● Based on Galilei, projectile motion is a combination

of two motions, vertical and horizontal motion.
● He termed this motion as compound motion.
● a motion experienced by an object (projectile) that
is thrown near the earth's surface and moves along a
curved path due to gravity.
PROJECTILE MOTION

● A projectile refers to any object that has an

initial velocity, but proceeds through a
parabolic path, called a trajectory, entirely
influenced by acceleration due to gravity and
air resistance.
TWO TYPES OF PROJECTILE MOTION

● Horizontally launched
● Launched at an angle
 PROJECTILE
LAUNCHED
HORIZONTALLY
 HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED
PROJECTILE

● A type of projectile
motion that is
launched on the
edge of a platform
without an angle.
Characteristics of a Projectile

● Initial horizontal
velocity is equal
to its final
horizontal
velocity.
Characteristics of a Projectile

● Horizontally a=0,
vertically
a=-9.8m/s2.
HORIZONTALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILE
 Let’s
Practice!
 PROBLEM 1
Right off of a cliff’s edge, a stunt rider has
jumped with his motorcycle with a horizontal
velocity of 9.0 m/s. Determine the
motorcycle’s position 1 second after it took
off the cliff’s edge.
 PROBLEM 2
Calculate from how high a ball will fall if it is
thrown forward with a final velocity of 10 m/s
and lands 30.5 m away horizontally.
 PROBLEM 3
A block of wood fell off a horizontal desk with
a velocity of 1.10 m/s and landed on the floor
after 0.48 s. Calculate how high the desk is
from the floor and how far from the desk’s
edge the wood will be when it hits the floor.
 PROJECTILE
LAUNCHED
AT AN ANGLE
Characteristics of a Projectile

● The projectile
follow s a
parabolic path
or trajectory.
 Characteristics of a Projectile

● The vertical
component (vy)
decelerates until it
becomes zero at the
maximum height
because it is affected
by the gravity.
Characteristics of a Projectile

● The horizontal
component (vx)
does not accelerate
at all; thus it is
constant during
flight.
Characteristics of a Projectile

● The magnitude of
the object’s velocity
at point A and E are
equal. Same goes
when the particle
reaches point B and
D.
Characteristics of a Projectile

● In a leveled plain,
the projectile
travels half of the
range when it
reaches the
highest point (C).
ANGLE OF PROJECTION

● the angle to which the

object (projectile) was
projected at the beginning
of the flight. It is always
measured from the
horizontal.
FORMULAE FOR PROJECTILE
MOTION
𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠/𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

𝒅𝒙 = (𝒗𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽)𝒕
𝟏 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 𝒕 + 𝒈𝒕
𝟐
FORMULAE FOR PROJECTILE
MOTION
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠

𝒗𝒙 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
𝟐
𝒗𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 + 𝒈𝒕
Maximum Height (hmax)

● the maximum vertical Formula

distance reached by the
projectile.
● When the projectile
reaches this point, it is
travelling at its slowest
speed.
 Time of Flight (T)

● the projectile's total time Formula

of flight. The formula is
only applicable in a
levelled plain where the
initial and final position of
the projectile has the same
elevation.
 Range (R)

● the horizontal distance Formula

covered when it returns to
its initial height.
● The formula is only applicable
in a levelled plain where the
initial and final position has the
same elevation.
 Let’s
Practice!
 PROBLEM 1
A mortar bomb was launched from the
military base. The initial velocity of the bomb
was 75m/s and was launched at an angle of 45
⁰ from the horizontal. Calculate for the
maximum height reached (hmax) by the bomb,
its time of fight (T), and how far did it go (R)?
 PROBLEM 2
If a projectile has an initial velocity of 20m/s
and was projected to an angle of 45 ⁰,
calculate for the maximum height reached by
the projectile and solve for the time of flight.
 PROBLEM 3
A pumpkin is launched at an angle of 30º to
the horizontal with an initial velocity of 25
m/s. Calculate (a) the maximum height
reached by the pumpkin, (b) its flight
duration, and (c) its range.
 Try it
yourself!
 PROBLEM 1
A bartender slid a beverage mug at 1.50 m/s toward
a customer at the end of a frictionless bar that is
1.20 m tall. The customer tried to grab the mug but
missed, and the mug sailed off the end of the bar.
How far away (horizontal distance) (R) from the end
of the bar did the mug hit the floor?
 PROBLEM 2
A shell is fired at a velocity of 300 m/s at an angle of
30o above the horizontal. The shell follows a perfect
parabolic path.
A. Determine the components of initial velocity.
B. How much time is needed to reach highest point?
C. What is the total time of travel?
D. What is its maximum altitude?
E. What is the horizontal distance at its highest point?
F. Compute the range.
 PROBLEM 3
A projectile is launched with an initial
speed of 30 m/s at an angle of 60o above
the horizontal. Calculate the magnitude
and direction of its velocity 2.0s and 5.0 s
after launched.
 PROBLEM 4
A ball has been launched from a
launching device with an initial velocity
of 30 m/s at an angle of 29º to the
horizontal. Determine the horizontal
component of the ball’s velocity
after 3 seconds.
 PROBLEM 5
A baseball has been hit with an initial
velocity of 32 m/s at an angle of 49º. Find
the baseball’s position after 1.5 seconds.