Lesson 2

 FREE FALL
(Acceleration due to gravity)

Free falling bodies:

When an object is raised and released, it falls faster and faster because
gravity is continually pulling it down. Such object, called a freely falling body,
is not affected by any other force except gravity. Its downward speed
𝑚 𝑓𝑡
increases by 9.8 𝑠 (32 𝑠 ) after each second. The longer the time of fall the
greater the velocity. Disregarding air friction, all bodies fall with constant
acceleration if the distance of fall is not too great.
The increasing speed of a freely falling body is called acceleration
𝑚 𝑓𝑡
due to gravity and is equal to 𝑔 = 9.8 𝑠2 𝑜𝑟 (𝑔 = 32 𝑠2 ).
𝑚
On the moon, 𝑔 = 1. 60 𝑠2

Note: Before we go to problem solving, 𝑔 here is constant with positive value,

𝑚 𝑓𝑡
use 𝑔 = + 9.8 𝑠2 if the distance is in meter or kilometer and use 𝑔 = + 32 𝑠2
if the distance is in feet.

In this lesson, we will also use the 5 formulas just like in the topic uniformly
accelerated motion, but the acceleration 𝑎 is changed by 𝑔. We changed also
the letter 𝑠 to 𝑦 for the distance which indicates 𝑦 as vertical distance.

5 formulas:

1. ) 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑦= 𝑣
⃗⃗⃗ 𝑡

(𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 )
2. ) 𝑔 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑡
1
3. ) 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = (𝑣 + 𝑣𝑖 )
2 𝑓

4. ) 𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

5. ) 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2

Reminder: In solving this kind of problem, identify correctly the given

especially initial velocity and final velocity and be careful with the units.

Module I
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Example Problems:

1. A stone dropped from a bridge strikes the water 2.5 𝑠 later.

a. What is its final velocity in m/s?
b. How high is the bridge?

𝑚
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑡 = 2.5 𝑠 𝑔 = + 9.8 𝑠2
𝑚
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 𝑠 𝑏. ) 𝑦
Solution:
𝑚
Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 𝑠

𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡 = 0 + ( 9.8 2 ) ( 2.5 𝑠)
𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 24.50
𝑠
Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑦, here any distance formula can be use, try
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑚
𝑦 = (0)( 2.5 𝑠) + 1⁄2 (9.8 2 ) ( 2.5 𝑠)2
𝑠
𝑦 = 30.625 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 30.63 𝑚

It’s your turn you can verify the answer, use the other formulas
Can you get it? Show your Solution at the space provided:
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡 𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

2. A ball is thrown vertically downward with a velocity of 12 𝑚/𝑠.

a. How far has the ball fallen in 1 𝑠?
b. 2 𝑠 later?
𝑚
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 12 𝑚/𝑠 𝑔 = + 9.8 𝑠2
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑠 𝑏. ) 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 2 𝑠
Solution:
Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑠

𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑚 𝑚
𝑦 = (12 ) (1 𝑠) + 1⁄2 (9.8 2 )(1 𝑠)2
𝑠 𝑠

𝑦 = 16.9 𝑚

Module I
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Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 2 𝑠 the same formula

𝑚 𝑚
𝑦 = (12 ) (2 𝑠) + 1⁄2 (9.8 2 )(2 𝑠)2
𝑠 𝑠

𝑦 = 43.6 𝑚

3. A ball is dropped from a window 64 𝑓𝑡 above the ground.

a. How long does it take the ball to reach the ground?
b. What is its final velocity?

𝑓𝑡
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑦 = 64 𝑓𝑡 𝑔 = + 32 𝑠2
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑡 𝑏. ) 𝑣𝑓
Solution:
Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑡 we can use the 5th formula since y and 𝑣𝑖 is
given, then substitute values
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑓𝑡
64 𝑓𝑡 = (0)𝑡 + 1⁄2 ( 32 2 )𝑡 2
𝑠
𝑓𝑡 2
64 𝑓𝑡 = 16 2 𝑡
𝑠
𝑡 =2𝑠

Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑣𝑓
𝑓𝑡
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡 = 0 + (32 ) ( 2 𝑠)
𝑠2
𝑓𝑡
𝑣𝑓 = 64
𝑠

Verify the answer for 𝑣𝑓

Show your Solution at the space provided: I hope you will get the
answer! 𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

4. A ball is thrown downward with an initial velocity of 20 𝑓𝑡/𝑠.

a. How fast is it moving 2 𝑠 later?
b. How far does it fall in these 2 s?

𝑓𝑡
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 20 𝑓𝑡/𝑠 𝑔 = + 32 𝑠2
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 2 𝑠 𝑏. ) 𝑦 𝑖𝑛 2 𝑠

Module I
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Solution:

Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑣𝑓
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑡
𝑣𝑓 = 20 + (32 2 )(2 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑓𝑡
𝑣𝑓 = 84
𝑠
Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑦
1
𝑦= 𝑣 ⃗⃗⃗ 𝑡 = (𝑣𝑓 + 𝑣𝑖 )𝑡
2
1 𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑡
𝑦 = ( 84 + 20 )(2 𝑠)
2 𝑠 𝑠
𝑦 = 104 𝑓

Checking: Solve 𝑠 using the other distance formulas

Show your Solution at the space provided: I hope you will get the answer!

𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2 𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

Did you get it? Nice try.

5. The acceleration of gravity on the surface of Mars is 3.7 𝑚/𝑠 2 . If a ball

is thrown vertically downward at 10 𝑚/𝑠 from a cliff of Mars, what will
its speed be after 1 𝑠? After 3 𝑠?

Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 10 𝑚/𝑠 𝑔 = + 3.7 𝑚/𝑠 2

Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑠 𝑏. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 3 𝑠
Solution:

Solving for 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑠
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 10 + (3.7 2 )(1 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 13.7
𝑠

Solving for 𝑣𝑓 𝑖𝑛 3 𝑠 the same formula

𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 10 + (3.7 2 )(3 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 21.1
𝑠

Module I