Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

Using Kinematic equations to solve Free-fall problems

Worked Example:

1. 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?
SOLUTION:
a. Let upward be the positive direction.

b.

The brick falls 78 m.

ANSWER:
a. Let upward be the positive direction.
vf = 39 m/s downward
b. x = –78 m
The brick falls 78 m.
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Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

2. 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? Hint: The time it takes the ball to rise equals the time it takes to fall.
SOLUTION:
To solve the problems related to the tennis ball thrown straight up, we can use the kinematic equations of motion.

Given:
- Initial speed (\(u\)) = 22.5 m/s
- Final speed at the maximum height (\(v\)) = 0 m/s (at the highest point)
- Acceleration (\(a\)) = -9.81 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity, acting downwards)

a. How high does the ball rise?

We can use the following kinematic equation to find the maximum height S:

v^2 = u^2 + 2aS

Substituting the known values:

0 = (22.5) ^2 + 2(-9.81) S

Rearranging the equation:

0 = 506.25 - 19.62S

19.62S = 506.25

s = 506.25/19.62 = 25.8 m

b. How long does the ball remain in the air?

The time to reach maximum height can be calculated using the following equation:

v = u + at

At maximum height, (v = 0):

0 = 22.5 + (-9.81) t

Rearranging gives:

9.81t = 22.5

t = 22.5 / 9.81= 2.29 s

Since the time to rise equals the time to fall, the total time in the air (T) is:

T = 2t = 2 X 2.29 = 4.58 seconds

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Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

3. You decide to flip a coin to determine whether to do your physics or English homework first. The coin is
flipped straight up.

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

d. If the coin reaches a high point of 0.25 m above where you released it, what was its initial speed?
e. If you catch it at the same height as you released it, how much time did it spend in the air?
SOLUTION:

Let's analyze the motion of the coin flipped straight up using kinematic equations.
c. What is the velocity of the coin at the top of its trajectory?
At the top of its trajectory, the velocity v of the coin is **0 m/s** because it momentarily stops before starting
to fall back down.
d. If the coin reaches a high point of 0.25 m above where you released it, what was its initial speed?
We can use the following kinematic equation to find the initial speed (u):
v^2 = u^2 + 2as
 v = 0 m/s (at the top)
 a = -9.81 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity, acting downwards)
 (s = 0.25\) m (height reached)
Substituting the values into the equation:
0 = u^2 + 2(-9.81) (0.25)
Rearranging gives:
0 = u^2 - 4.905
u^2 = 4.905
u = sqrt4.905 = 2.21m/s

e. If you catch it at the same height as you released it, how much time did it spend in the air?
The time to reach the highest point can be found using the following equation:
v = u + at
At the highest point, v = 0:
0 = 2.21 + (-9.81) t
Rearranging gives:
9.81t = 2.21

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Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

t = 2.21/ 9.81 = 0.225 s

Since the time to ascend is equal to the time to descend, the total time in the air (T) is:
T = 2t= 2 X 0.225 = 0.45 s

Section 3 Free Fall: Review

4. MAIN IDEA Suppose you hold a book in one hand and a flat sheet of paper in another hand. You drop them both,
and they fall to the ground. Explain why the falling book is a good example of free fall, but the paper is not.
SOLUTION:

the falling book is a good example of free fall because it accelerates uniformly under the influence of gravity, while the
paper is not a good example of free fall due to the significant effect of air resistance affecting its motion.

5. Free-Fall Ride 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?
SOLUTION:
Let upward be the positive direction.

Use v=u+at , then v= 22.6 m/s

Then s=ut+1/2 at^2 , so S= 25.9 m

6. Velocity and Acceleration Suppose you throw a ball straight up into the air. Describe the changes in the velocity of
the ball. Describe the changes in the acceleration of the ball.
SOLUTION:
 Velocity: The ball starts with a positive velocity, decreases to zero at maximum height, and then becomes negative
as it falls back down, increasing in magnitude.
 Acceleration: The acceleration remains constant at −9.81 m/s^2s2 throughout the entire motion, acting downward
due to gravity.

Free Fall: Mastering Problems

7. A stone that starts at rest is in free fall for 8.0 s. (Level 1)
a.
Calculate the stone’s velocity after 8.0 s.
b.
What is the stone’s displacement during this time?

SOLUTION:
Given:
 Initial velocity (u) = 0 m/s (the stone starts at rest)
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Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

 Acceleration (a) = 9.81 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity)

 Time (t) = 8.08.08.0 s

a. v=u+at , v= 78.48 m/s

b. S=ut+ ½ at^2 , S= 313.92 m

8. You throw a ball downward from a window at a speed of 2.0 m/s. How fast will it be moving when it hits the
sidewalk 2.5 m below? (Level 2)
SOLUTION:

Given:
 Initial velocity (u) = 2.0 m/s (downward)
 Displacement (s) = 2.5 m (downward)
 Acceleration (a) = 9.81 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity, downward)

Use v2=u2+2as , v2 = 53.05 , v = 7.28 m/s

9. Beanbag You throw a beanbag in the air and catch it 2.2 s later at the same place at which you threw it. (Level 3)
a.
How high did it go?
b.
What was its initial velocity?
SOLUTION:

 Total time in the air (T) = 2.2 s

 Time to reach the maximum height = T/2=1.1 s (since the time to go up is equal to the
time to come down)
So use v= u + at to find u (b) then use use s= u+ ½ at^2 to find S (a)

On dimensional motion: Mixed Review

10. Bicycle A bicycle accelerates from 0.0 m/s to 4.0 m/s in 4.0 s. What distance does it travel? (Level 1)
SOLUTION:

ANSWER:

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Free Fall Practice Problems, Review, and Assessment

11. A weather balloon is floating at a constant height above Earth when it releases a pack of instruments. (Level 1)

a. If the pack hits the ground with a downward velocity of −73.5 m/s, how far did the pack fall?
b. Calculate the distance the ball has rolled at the end of 2.2 s.
SOLUTION:

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