NORTHERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
GRADE 12

VERTICAL PROJECTILE MOTION

AUTUMN SCHOOL

2020
Gilberto G. Izquierdo 0
Gilberto G. Izquierdo 1
Vertical Projectile Motion

VERTICAL PROJECTILE MOTION

Projectile Equations of motion

Projectile is Position Displacement Velocity Acceleration

an object →yf =→y i + ∆→
y ∆ y = vi ∆ t +
1
a ∆ t2 vf = vi + a ∆ tMagnitude constant:
2
upon which → ∆ y − a = 9,8 m ∙ s −2
vf2 − vi2vf2 = vi2 + 2a ∆ y
the only force Displacemen ∆y = Direction is always
2a
acting is the t, which is downwards (towards the
( )
vi + vf
the change ∆y = ∆t centre of the Earth).
force o f in position. 2

gravity. Graphs
The motion Direction of P o s i t i o n v s Ve l o c i t y v s Acceleration vs time
of a projectile motion time time
is called free V e r t i c a l l y → → →
downwards x v g
fall.
( s p e e d
Free fall is increases)
the motion in ( c o n s t a n t
acceleration)
which an
o b j e c t 0 0 0 t
experiences
Ve r t i c a l l y
negligible air upwards →
x →
v →
g
resistance ( s p e e d
and constant decreases)
acceleration ( c o n s t a n t
acceleration)
due to
0 0 0 t
gravitational
force only.
Free fall is
the motion
of an object
upon which
the only
force acting
is the force
of gravity.

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 2
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.

Each question has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write
only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (1.1–1.10) in the ANSWER
BOOK, for example 1.11 D.

1.1 Which ONE of the graphs below correctly represents the relationship
between the kinetic energy (K) of a free-falling object and its speed (v)?

A B
K (J)
K (J)

v (m∙s-1) v (m∙s-1)

C D
K (J)

K (J)

(2)
v (m∙s-1) v (m∙s-1)

1.2 The statements below describe the motion of objects.

(i) A feather falls from a certain height inside a vacuum tube.
( i i A box slides along a smooth horizontal surface at constant speed.
)
A steel ball falls through the air in the absence of air friction.
(iii
)
Which of the following describes UNIFORMLY ACCELERATED motion
CORRECTLY?

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 3
 A (i) and (ii) only
B (i) and (iii) only
C (ii) and (iii) only
D (i), (ii) and (iii) (2)

1.3 An object is thrown vertically upwards from the ground.

Which ONE of the following is CORRECT regarding the direction of

the acceleration of the object as it moves upwards and then
downwards? Ignore the effects of air resistance.

OBJECT MOVING OBJECT MOVING

UPWARDS DOWNWARDS
A Downwards Upwards
B Upwards Downwards
C Downwards Downwards
D Upwards Upwards (2)

1.4 A boy throws a tennis ball vertically upwards, and after a time it returns
to the boy’s hands. Which ONE of the following velocity versus time
graphs best represents the motion of the ball? Ignore air friction.

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 4
 (2)

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 5
1.5 A ball dropped from a height, h, strikes the ground and bounces vertically
upwards to its original height. Which ONE of the following position versus time
graphs best represents the motion of the ball? Ignore the effects of air friction.

(2)

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 6
QUESTION 2 (Start on a new page.)
Ball A is projected vertically upwards at a velocity of 16 m∙s-1 from the ground. Ignore
the effects of air resistance. Use the ground as zero reference.
2.1 Calculate the time taken by ball A to return to the ground. (4)
2.2 Sketch a velocity-time graph for ball A.
Show the following on the graph:

(a) Initial velocity of ball A

(b) Time taken to reach the highest point of the motion
(c) Time taken to return to the ground (3)

ONE SECOND after ball A is projected upwards, a second ball, B, is thrown vertically
downwards at a velocity of 9 m∙s-1 from a balcony 30 m above the ground. Refer to
the diagram below.

9 m∙s-1

30 m

16 m∙s-1

A
ground

2.3 Calculate how high above the ground ball A will be at the instant the two
balls pass each other. (6)
[13]

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 7
QUESTION 3 (Start on a new page.)

A man throws ball A downwards with a speed of 2 m∙s-1 from the edge of a window,
45 m above a dam of water. One second later he throws a second ball, ball B,
downwards and observes that both balls strike the surface of the water in the dam at
the same time. Ignore air friction.
3.1 Calculate the:
3.1.1 Speed with which ball A hits the surface of the water (3)
3.1.2 Time it takes for ball B to hit the surface of the water (3)
3.1.3 Initial velocity of ball B (5)
3.2 On the same set of axes, sketch a velocity versus time graph for the motion
of balls A and B. Clearly indicate the following on your graph:
• Initial velocities of both balls A and B
• The time of release of ball B
• The time taken by both balls to hit the surface of the water (5)
[16]

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 8
QUESTION 4 (Start on a new page.)

A ball is dropped from the top of a building 20 m high. Ignore the effects of air
resistance.

20 m

4.1 Define the term free fall. (2)

4.2 Calculate the:
4.2.1 Speed at which the ball hits the ground (4)
4.2.2 Time it takes the ball to reach the ground (3)
4.3 Sketch a velocity-time graph for the motion of the ball (no values
required). (2)
[11]

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 9
QUESTION 5
A ball is projected vertically upwards from the ground next to a building. The
ball reaches maximum height above the ground before moving downwards.
On its way down it passes a window 2,2 m high in the building in 0,2 s. The
bottom of the window is 1,2 m above the ground. Ignore the effects of air
friction.

5.1 Write down the acceleration of the ball at the maximum height. (2)
5.2 Write down the magnitude of the velocity of the ball at the maximum
height. (1)
5.3 Calculate the velocity of the ball at the top of the window. (4)
5.4 Use equations of motion to calculate the initial speed of the ball. (4)
5.5 Calculate the time the ball takes to reach its maximum height above
the ground. (3)
5.6 Sketch a velocity-time graph for the motion of the ball from the
moment it was projected vertically upwards until it hits the ground for
the first time. Indicate the respective time and velocity values on the (3)

graph. [17]

Gilberto G. Izquierdo 10