Week 4 Activity: Uniform Accelerated Motion (Free-falling Objects)

Name: _______________________________________________ Grade 12 STEM Sec. _______________

Motion of Free-falling Objects

Objects are considered to be in
Free-fall motion if it is acted upon by gravity
only. Its motion is said to be uniformly
accelerated at 9.8 m / s 2. It means that
the velocity of the object changes at the
rate of 9.8 m/s every second. The longer
the time it falls, the faster it gets. In an
experiment conducted by Galileo Galilei
using a ball rolling on an inclined plank,
he discovered that the motion of the Fig. 1.Galileo’s experiment
ball changes uniformly with time. He first
termed this uniform change as constant. He also noticed that this constant increases as the angle
of inclination of the plank increases and measured 9.8 m/s 2 when the plank is vertical. He later
termed this constant as the acceleration due to gravity (g).
Below are the tabular data of Galileo’s experiment about the motion of free falling
objects.
Displacement Time Velocity Time
(m) (s) (m/s) (s)
0 0 0 0
4.9 1 9.8 1
19.6 2 19.6 2
44.1 3 29.4 3
78.4 4 39.2 4
Plotting the data in the table, we will have the following graphs below.

QUESTION
1. Based on the graphical pattern in the d-t graph above for a free falling object, describe its
motion. __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2 – 3. Does your answer in question No. 1, consistent with the graphical pattern in the v-t
graph above? If Yes, explain your basis. _________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Using the equation for slope, what is the value of the slope in the v-t graph above?
_________________________________________________________________________
5. What does this value or the slope of the v-t graph indicate? ________________________
Area under the Graph
The table below shows a v-t graph of an object moving at constant speed. Shading the
area under the graph forms a rectangular shape where the width of the rectangle is the velocity
and the length is the time of the motion. In a rectangle, multiplying the length and width will give
you the area of the rectangle. In this v-t graph, multiplying velocity and time will give you the
displacement of the motion on the particular time interval (v • t = d). This is consistent with the
𝑑
equation for average velocity 𝑣 = if we transmute for the value of d.
𝑡

Using the v-t graph for the motion of free-falling

objects, we could draw a triangular shape covering the
area under the graph as shown in Fig 2.
The first quantity that we could derive from
the v-t graph is its slope which is equal to the
acceleration of the object’s motion stated below
∆𝑣 𝑣𝑓−𝑣𝑖
𝑎= or 𝑎=
∆𝑡 𝑡𝑓−𝑡𝑖

𝑣𝑓−𝑣𝑖
or 𝑎= 𝑡 Fig. 2. Area under the graph of a
v-t grapgh for free-falling objects
where:
a – acceleration (m/s2) tf – final time (s)
vf – final velocity (m/s) ti –initial time (s)
vi – initial velocity (m/s)

From this equation, we could derive our first equation for Uniformly Accelerated Motion
(UAM) such as free-falling objects shown below.
vf = vi + at

This equation is used when displacement is not included in the word problem. See
example below.
Example 1
A metal ball is dropped from a certain height. Neglecting air friction, how fast is the
metal ball after 2.0 s? (Assume that acceleration due to gravity (g) is 9.8 m/s 2)
Given Equation Solution Final answer
g = 9.8 m/s2 vf = vi + at vf = 0 + 9.8 m/s2(2.0 s) vf = 19.6 m/s
vi = 0 vf = 19.6 m/s
t = 2.0
The second quantity we could derive from the graph in Fig 2 is the area of the triangle
𝑏ℎ
under the graph. Remember that the area of a triangle is equal to 𝐴 = . Also, the area under
2
the graph is equal to displacement Fig. 1. Using the quantities in the v-t graph, displacement is
𝑣𝑓(𝑡)
equal to 𝑑 = . This is true if vi = 0. Replacing vf
2
with the first equation we will derive the second
equation.
(𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡)(𝑡)
𝑑=
2
Since vi = 0

What if vi is not zero. Fig 3 shows two shapes

a rectangle with its width is vi and length is t and a
triangle with its area equal to the equation above.
Combining the two equations, we have our second equation for a uniformly accelerated motion
stated below
where:
d – displacement (m) a – acceleration (m/s2)
vi – initial velocity (m/s) t – time (s)

This equation is used when final velocity is not included in the word problem. See
example below.
Example 2
A stone was dropped from the roof top of a building. How high is the roof top
approximately if it took the stone to hit ground 1.8 s? (Neglect air friction and assume that
acceleration due to gravity (g) is 9.8 m/s2)
Given Equation Solution Final answer
2 2 2
g = 9.8 m/s d = 0(1.8s) + 9.8 m/s (1.8s) d = 15.86 m
vi = 0 2
t = 1.8 s d = 9.8 m/s2(3.24 s2)
2
d = 31.75 m
2
For the third equation, we could use equation for displacement d = v Avet. Replace vAve
𝑣𝑓+𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑓−𝑣𝑖
with and t with we have the equation below.
2 𝑎
𝑣𝑓+𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑓−𝑣𝑖
d =( )( )
2 𝑎
Simplifying the equation, we have our third equation for uniformly accelerated motion
stated below.
vf2 = vi2 + 2ad where:
d – displacement (m) vi – initial velocity (m/s)
vf –final velocity (m/s) a – acceleration (m/s2)
This equation is used when time is not included in the word problem. See example below.
Example 3
A ball was thrown vertically downward from the edge of a cliff 50 m high from the vertical
ground at 5 m / s initial velocity. How fast is the ball just before it hits the ground?
Given Equation Solution Final answer
g = 9.8 m/s2 vf2 = vi2 + 2ad vf2 = (5 m/s)2 + 2(9.8 m/s2)(50 m) vf = 31.70 m/s
vi = 5 m / s vf2 = 25 m2/s2 + 19.6 m/s2(50 m)
d = 50 m vf2 = 25 m2/s2 + 980 m2/s2
vf2 = 1 005 m2/s2
Possible Derivation of Equations in UAM

Fundamental Finding Finding Finding Finding If

Equations Displacement Final Velocity Time Initial Velocity Initial Velocity
zero
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖
vf = vi + at None vf = vi + at 𝑡= vi = vf - at vf = at
𝑎
d = vit + at2/2 d = vit + at2/2 None None vi = (d/t)–(at/2) d = at2/2

vf2 = vi2 + 2ad vf = vi2 + 2ad None vi = vf2 - 2ad vf = 2ad

Other possible equations if vi is zero

𝑣𝑓 𝑣𝑓
vf = at 𝑎= 𝑡=
𝑡 𝑎
d = at2/2

vf = 2ad

Note: No need to memorize all the equations, just the three fundamental equations then
perform equation transmutations.

Word Problem.
Procedure:
a. Identify the given in the word problem (1pt)
b. Choose appropriate working equation based from the given (1pt)
c. Replace the variables with quantities in the given and perform operations in the solution
(2pts)
d. Write the final answer with proper label and unit then encircle it. (1pt)

6 – 10. What is the velocity of a falling apple from a tree just before it hits the ground if it took
the apple 0.75 s to fall?

11 – 15. How long will it take for the stone to hit the ground dropped from a 100 m high
platform?

16 – 20. How high is the tower if the stone dropped from its highest portion moves at 25 m / s 2
just before it hits the ground?