Vertical Projectile Motion in One Dimension (1D) - 1

Umzilikazi Secondary School
GRADE 12
Vertical Projectile Motion in One

Dimension (1D)
REVISION DOCUMENT
2021
COMPILED BY: B. DLAMINI
Umzilikazi Secondary School 2021

Vertical Projectile Motion in One Dimension (1D)
• Explain what is meant by a projectile, i.e. an object upon which the only force acting is the
force of gravity.
• Use equations of motion to determine the position, velocity and displacement of a projectile
at any given time.
• Sketch position versus time (x vs. t), velocity versus time (v vs. t) and acceleration versus
time (a vs. t) graphs for:
o A free-falling object
o An object thrown vertically upwards
o An object thrown vertically downwards
o Bouncing objects (restricted to balls)
• For a given x vs. t, v vs. t or a vs. t graph, determine:
o Position
o Displacement
o Velocity or acceleration at any time t
• For a given x vs. t, v vs. t or a vs. t graph, describe the motion of the object:
o Bouncing
o Thrown vertically upwards
o Thrown vertically downward
Page 2
QUESTION 1
A stationary rocket on the ground is launched vertically upwards. After 4 s, the

rocket's fuel is used up and it is 225,6 m above the ground. At this instant the
velocity of the rocket is 112,8 m∙s-1. The diagram below shows the path
followed by the rocket. Ignore the effects of air friction. Assume that g does
not change during the entire motion of the rocket.
v = 112,8 m∙s-1
P
225,6 m
ground
1.1 Write down the direction of the acceleration of the rocket at point:
1.1.1 P (1)
1.1.2 Q (1)
1.2 At which point (P or Q) is the rocket in free fall? Give a reason for the answer. (2)
1.3 TAKING UPWARD MOTION AS POSITIVE, USE EQUATIONS OF MOTION

to calculate the time taken from the moment the rocket is launched until it
strikes the ground. (6)
1.4 Sketch a velocity versus time graph for the motion of the rocket from the
moment it runs out of fuel until it strikes the ground. Take the time when the
rocket runs out of fuel as t = 0 s.
Indicate the following values on the graph:
Velocity of the rocket when it runs out of fuel

Time at which the rocket strikes the ground (5)
[15]
Page 3
QUESTION 2
An object is released from rest from a point X, above the ground as shown in the
diagram below. It travels the last 30 m (BC) in 1,5 s before hitting the ground. Ignore
the effects of air friction.
●X
●B
30 m
● Ground
C
2.1 Name the type of motion described above. (1)
2.2 Calculate the:
2.2.1 Magnitude of the velocity of the object at point B (4)
2.2.2 Height of point X above the ground (5)
After hitting the ground, the object bounces once and then comes to rest on the
ground.
2.3 Sketch an acceleration-time graph for the entire motion of the object. (3)
[13]
Page 4
QUESTION 3 (Mar. 2012)
A stone is thrown vertically upward at a velocity of 10 m·s-1 from the top of a tower of
height 50 m. After some time the stone passes the edge of the tower and strikes the
ground below the tower. Ignore the effects of friction.
vi = 10 m·s-1
1,5 m
50 m
y1
3.1 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing the force(s) acting on the stone
during its motion. (1)
3.2 Calculate the:
3.2.1 Time taken by the stone to reach its maximum height above the
ground (4)
3.2.2 Maximum height that the stone reaches above the ground (4)
3.3 USING THE GROUND AS REFERENCE (zero position), sketch a position-

time graph for the entire motion of the stone. (3)
3.4 On its way down, the stone takes 0,1 s to pass a window of length 1,5 m, as
shown in the diagram above.
Calculate the distance (y1) from the top of the window to the ground. (7)
[19]
Page 5
QUESTION 4 (Nov. 2018)
In a competition, participants must attempt to throw a ball vertically upwards

past point T, marked on a tall vertical pole. Point T is 3,7 m above the ground. Point T
may, or may not, be the highest point during the motion of the ball.
One participant throws the ball vertically upwards at a velocity of 7,5 ms-1 from a point
that is 1,6 m above the ground, as shown in the diagram below. Ignore the effects
of air resistance.
7,5 ms-1
3,7 m
1,6 m
ground
4.1 In which direction is the net force acting on the ball while it moves towards
point T?
Choose from: UPWARDS or DOWNWARDS. Give a reason for the answer. (2)
4.2 Calculate the time taken by the ball to reach its highest point. (3)
4.3 Determine, by means of a calculation, whether the ball will pass point T or
not. (6)
4.4 Draw a velocity-time graph for the motion of the ball from the instant it is
thrown upwards until it reaches its highest point.
Indicate the following on the graph:
The initial velocity and final velocity

Time taken to reach the highest point (2)
[13]
Page 6
QUESTION 5 (DBE 2015)
A hot air balloon is rising vertically at a constant velocity. When the hot air balloon reaches
point A a few metres above the ground, a man in the hot air balloon drops a ball which hits the
ground and bounces. Ignore the effects of friction.
GROUND
The velocity-time graph below represents the motion of the ball from the instant it is dropped
until after it bounces for the first time. The time interval between bounces is ignored. THE
UPWARD DIRECTION IS TAKEN AS POSITIVE.
USE INFORMATION FROM THE GRAPH TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.
5.1 Write down the magnitude of the velocity of the hot air balloon. (1)
5.2 Calculate the height above the ground from which the ball was dropped. (3)
Calculate the:
5.3 Time at the point P indicated on the graph (2)
5.4 Maximum height the ball reaches after the first bounce (3)
5.5 Distance between the ball and hot air balloon when the ball is at its maximum height
after the first bounce (4)
A hot-air balloon moves vertically downwards at a constant velocity of 1,2 m∙s-1. When it
reaches a height of 22 m from the ground, a ball is dropped from the balloon. Refer to the diagram
below.
1,2 m·s-1
22 m
ground
Assume that the dropping of the ball has no effect on the speed of the hot-air balloon. Ignore
air friction for the motion of the ball.
6.1 Explain the term projectile motion. (2)

6.2 Is the hot-air balloon in free fall? Give a reason for the answer. (2)
6.3 Calculate the time it takes for the ball to hit the ground after it is dropped. (4)
When the ball lands on the ground, it is in contact with the ground for 0,3 s and then it
bounces vertically upwards with a speed of 15 m∙s-1.
6.4 Calculate how high the balloon is from the ground when the ball reaches its
maximum height after the first bounce. (6)
[14]
Page 8
A ball of mass 0,2 kg is dropped from a height of 0,8 m onto a hard floor. It bounces
to a maximum height of 0,6 m. The floor exerts a force of 50 N on the ball. Ignore
the effects of friction.
7.1 Write down the magnitude and direction of the force that the ball exerts on the
floor. (2)
7.2 Calculate the:
7.2.1 Velocity at which the ball strikes the floor (4)
7.2.2 Time that the ball is in contact with the floor if it bounces off the
floor at a speed of 3,43 m·s-1 (4)
7.3 The ball takes 0,404 s from the moment it is dropped until it strikes the floor.
Sketch a graph (not to scale) of position versus time representing the entire
motion of the ball. USE THE GROUND AS ZERO REFERENCE.
Height from which the ball is dropped

Height reached by the ball after the bounce
Time at which the ball bounces off the floor (5)
[15
]
Page 9
A ball of mass 0,15 kg is thrown vertically downwards from the top of a building to a concrete
floor below. The ball bounces off the floor. The velocity versus time graph below shows the
motion of the ball. Ignore the effects of air friction. TAKE DOWNWARD MOTION AS
POSITIVE.
8.1 From the graph, write down the magnitude of the velocity at which the ball
bounces off the floor. (1)
8.2 Is the collision of the ball with the floor ELASTIC or INELASTIC? Refer to the
data on the graph to explain the answer. (3)
8.3 Calculate the:
8.3.1 Height from which the ball is thrown (4)
8.3.2 Magnitude of the impulse imparted by the floor on the ball (3)
8.3.3 Magnitude of the displacement of the ball from the moment it is

thrown until time t (4)
8.4 Sketch a position versus time graph for the motion of the ball from the moment
it is thrown until it reaches its maximum height after the bounce. USE THE FLOOR AS
THE ZERO POSITION.
The height from which the ball is thrown

Time t (4)
[19]
Page 10
A ball is projected vertically upwards with a speed of 10 m∙s-1 from point A, which is at the
top edge of a building.
The ball hits the ground after 3 s. It is in contact with the ground for 0,2 s and then
bounces vertically upwards, reaching a maximum height of 8 m at point B. See the
diagram below.
Ignore the effects of friction.
10 m∙s-1
A
8m
ground
10.1 Why is the ball considered to be in free fall during its motion? (2)
10.2 Calculate the:
10.2.1 Height of the building (3)
10.2.2 Speed with which the ball hits the ground (3)
10.2.3 Speed with which the ball leaves the ground (3)
10.3 Draw a velocity versus time graph for the complete motion of the ball from A
to B. Show the following on the graph:
The magnitude of the velocity with which it hits the ground

The magnitude of the velocity with which it leaves the ground
The time taken to reach the ground, as well as the time at which it leaves
the ground (4)
[15]
Page 11
A ball is thrown vertically downwards from the top of a building and bounces a few
times as it hits the ground. The velocity-time graph below describes the motion of the
ball from the time it is thrown, up to a certain time T.
Take downwards as the positive direction and the ground as zero reference. The
graph is NOT drawn to scale. The effects of air friction are ignored.
11.1 Write down the speed with which the ball is thrown downwards. (1)
11.2 ALL parts of the graph have the same gradient. Give a reason for this. (2)
11.3 Calculate the:
11.3.1 Height from which the ball is thrown (3)
11.3.2 Time (T) shown on the graph (4)
11.4 Write down the:
11.4.1 Time that the ball is in contact with the ground at the first bounce (1)
11.4.2 Time at which the ball reaches its maximum height after the first
bounce (2)
11.4.3 Value of X (1)
11.5 Is the collision of the ball with the ground elastic or inelastic? Give a reason
for the answer using information in the graph. (2)
[16]
Page 12
In the diagram below, point A is at the top of a building. Point B is exactly halfway
between the point A and the ground. Ignore air resistance.
●A
●B
ground
12.1 Define the term free fall. (2)

A ball of mass 0,4 kg is dropped from point A. It passes point B after 1 s.
12.2 Calculate the height of point A above the ground. (3)
When the ball strikes the ground it is in contact with the ground for 0,2 s
and then bounces vertically upwards, reaching a maximum height at point B.
12.3 Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the ball when it strikes the ground. (3)
12.4 Calculate the magnitude of the average net force exerted on the ball while it is
in contact with the ground. (6)
[14]
Page 13

A ball, A, is thrown vertically upward from a height, h, with a speed of 15 m∙s-1.

AT THE SAME INSTANT, a second identical ball, B, is dropped from the same height
as ball A as shown in the diagram below.
Both balls undergo free fall and eventually hit the ground.
15 m∙s-1 B
A
Ground
13.1 Explain the term free fall. (2)
13.2 Calculate the time it takes for ball A to return to its starting point. (4)
13.3 Calculate the distance between ball A and ball B when ball A is at its
maximum height. (7)
13.4 Sketch a velocity-time graph in the ANSWER BOOK for the motion of ball A
from the time it is projected until it hits the ground.
Clearly show the following on your graph:
The initial velocity

The time it takes to reach its maximum height
The time it takes to return to its starting point (4)
[17]
Page 14
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.
14.1 Calculate the time taken by ball A to return to the ground. (4)
14.2 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
14.3 Calculate how high above the ground ball A will be at the instant the two balls
pass each other. (6)
[13]
Page 15
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.
15.1 Calculate the:
15.1.1 Speed with which ball A hits the surface of the water (3)
15.1.2 Time it takes for ball B to hit the surface of the water (3)
15.1.3 Initial velocity of ball B (5)
15.2 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]
Page 16
Ball A is projected vertically upwards from the ground, near a tall building, with a speed
of 30 m∙s-1. Ignore the effects of air friction.
15.1 Explain what is meant by a projectile. (2)
15.2 Calculate:
15.2.1 The total time that ball A will be in the air (4)
15.2.2 The distance travelled by ball A during the last second of its fall (4)
15.3 TWO SECONDS after ball A is projected upwards, ball B is projected

vertically upwards from the roof of the same building. The roof the building is
50 m above the ground. Both balls A and B reach the ground at the same
time. Refer to the diagram below. Ignore the effects of air friction.
50 m
30 m∙s-1
A ground
Calculate the speed with which ball B was projected upwards from the roof. (4)
15.4 Sketch velocity-time graphs for the motion of both balls A and B on the same
set of axes. Clearly label the graphs for balls A and B respectively.
Indicate the following on the graphs:
(a) Time taken by both balls A and B to reach the ground

(b) Time taken by ball A to reach its maximum height (4)
[18]
Page 17
Stone A is projected vertically upwards at a speed of 12 m∙s-1 from a height h above

the ground. Ignore the effects of air resistance.
16.1 Calculate the time taken for stone A to reach its maximum height. (3)
At the same instant that stone A is projected upwards, stone B is thrown vertically
downwards from the same height at an unknown speed, v. Refer to the diagram below.
12 m∙s-1
A B
ground
When stone A reaches its maximum height, the speed of stone B is 3v.
16.2 Calculate the speed, v, with which stone B is thrown downwards. (4)
At the instant stone A passes its initial position on its way down, stone B hits
the ground.
16.3 Calculate the height h. (3)
16.4 Sketch velocity-time graphs for the complete motions of stones A and B on
the same set of axes. Label your graphs for stones A and B clearly.
Show the following on the graphs:
The time taken for stone A to reach its maximum height

The velocity with which stone B is thrown downwards (4)
[14]
Page 18
Stone A is thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 10 m∙s-1 from the edge of the roof
of a 40 m high building, as shown in the diagram below.
Ignore the effects of air friction. Take the ground as reference.
10 m∙s-1
A
40 m
ground
17.1 Define the term free fall. (2)
17.2 Calculate the maximum HEIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND reached by stone A. (4)
17.3 Write down the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of stone A at this
maximum height. (2)
Stone B is dropped from rest from the edge of the roof, x seconds after stone A was
thrown upwards.
17.4 Stone A passes stone B when the two stones are 29,74 m above the ground.
Calculate the value of x. (6)
Page 19

17.5 The graphs of position versus time for part of the motion of both stones are
shown below.
Which of labels a to h on the graphs above represents EACH of the

following?
17.5.1 The time at which stone A has a positive velocity (1)
17.5.2 The maximum height reached by stone A (1)
17.5.3 The time when stone B was dropped (1)
17.5.4 The height at which the stones pass each other (1)
[18]
Page 20

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Umzilikazi Secondary School

Vertical Projectile Motion in One

COMPILED BY: B. DLAMINI

Umzilikazi Secondary School 2021

• For a given x vs. t, v vs. t or a vs. t graph, determine:

A stationary rocket on the ground is launched vertically upwards. After 4 s, the

1.3 TAKING UPWARD MOTION AS POSITIVE, USE EQUATIONS OF MOTION

Indicate the following values on the graph:

Velocity of the rocket when it runs out of fuel

2.1 Name the type of motion described above. (1)

2.2 Calculate the:

2.2.1 Magnitude of the velocity of the object at point B (4)

2.2.2 Height of point X above the ground (5)

3.3 USING THE GROUND AS REFERENCE (zero position), sketch a position-

In a competition, participants must attempt to throw a ball vertically upwards

Indicate the following on the graph:

The initial velocity and final velocity

6.1 Explain the term projectile motion. (2)

7.2 Calculate the:

7.2.1 Velocity at which the ball strikes the floor (4)

Indicate the following on the graph:

Height from which the ball is dropped

8.3 Calculate the:

8.3.1 Height from which the ball is thrown (4)

8.3.3 Magnitude of the displacement of the ball from the moment it is

Indicate the following on the graph:

The height from which the ball is thrown

Ignore the effects of friction.

10.2 Calculate the:

10.2.1 Height of the building (3)

The magnitude of the velocity with which it hits the ground

11.3 Calculate the:

11.3.1 Height from which the ball is thrown (3)

11.3.2 Time (T) shown on the graph (4)

11.4 Write down the:

11.4.3 Value of X (1)

12.1 Define the term free fall. (2)

Umzilikazi Secondary School 2021

A ball, A, is thrown vertically upward from a height, h, with a speed of 15 m∙s-1.

Clearly show the following on your graph:

The initial velocity

Ball A is projected vertically upwards at a velocity of 16 m∙s-1 from the ground.

14.2 Sketch a velocity-time graph for ball A.

ONE SECOND after ball A is projected upwards, a second ball, B, is thrown

15.1 Calculate the:

15.1.3 Initial velocity of ball B (5)

Initial velocities of both balls A and B

15.1 Explain what is meant by a projectile. (2)

15.3 TWO SECONDS after ball A is projected upwards, ball B is projected

Indicate the following on the graphs:

(a) Time taken by both balls A and B to reach the ground

Stone A is projected vertically upwards at a speed of 12 m∙s-1 from a height h above

16.3 Calculate the height h. (3)

Show the following on the graphs:

The time taken for stone A to reach its maximum height

Ignore the effects of air friction. Take the ground as reference.

17.1 Define the term free fall. (2)

Calculate the value of x. (6)

Umzilikazi Secondary School 2021