Lecture 3

ENPHYS130

FREE-FALL AND MOTION IN 2D

Free Falling Objects
◼ When air resistance is negligible, all objects
dropped under the influence of gravity near
Earth’s surface fall toward Earth with the same
constant acceleration.
◼ In the idealized case where air resistance is
negligible, such motion is called free fall.
◼ The expression freely falling object doesn’t
necessarily refer to an object dropped from rest.
◼ A freely falling object is any object moving freely
under the influence of gravity alone, regardless
of its initial motion.
◼ Objects thrown upward or downward and those
released from rest are all considered freely
falling.
 Free Falling Objects
FREE FALL ACCELERATION, (g)
◼ The value of g decreases with
increasing altitude, and varies slightly
with latitude, as well.
◼ At Earth’s surface, the value of g is
approximately 9.80 𝑚Τ𝑠 2 .
◼ Neglecting air resistance and assuming
that free-fall acceleration doesn’t vary
with altitude over short vertical
distances, then the motion of a freely
falling object will be the same as motion
in one dimension under constant
acceleration.
Free Fall Equations
𝒈 = −𝟗. 𝟖 𝒎Τ𝒔𝟐

𝟏 𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒈𝒕

𝟏 𝟐
𝟐 ∆𝒚 = 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒈𝒕
𝟐

𝟑 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝒐 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈∆𝒚
EXAMPLE 1:

◼ A golf ball is released from rest at the top of a

very tall building. Neglecting air resistance,
calculate the position and velocity of the ball
after 1.00 s, 2.00 s, and 3.00 s.

Use equation (1) for final velocity and (2) for

position where Vo = 0 m/s and g = -9.8 m/s2
EXAMPLE 2
An object dropped from a height of h
above the ground. The final velocity
when object hits the ground is 10 m/s.
What is the time interval to reach ½ h
above the ground. Acceleration due to
gravity is 9.8 m/s2.
Given: Vo = 0 m/s
V = 10 m/s

Req’d: t to reach (1/2)h

Sol’n:
𝒗𝟐 = 𝒗𝒐 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈∆𝒚
(10 m/s)2 = 0 +2(-9.8 m/s2)∆𝒚
∆𝒚 = - 5.1 m

(1/2)∆𝒚 = -2.55 m
𝟏
from ∆𝒚 = 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒈𝒕𝟐
𝟐
-2.55 m = 0 + (1/2)(-9.8 m/s2)t2

solving for t we get t = 0.72 s

Projectile Motion
What is projectile?

Projectile -Any object which projected by some

means and continues to move due to its own
inertia (mass).
Projectiles move in TWO dimensions
Since a projectile
moves in 2-
dimensions, it
therefore has 2
components just
like a resultant
vector.
◼ Horizontal and
Vertical
Horizontal “Velocity” Component

◼ NEVER changes, covers equal displacements in

equal time periods. This means the initial
horizontal velocity equals the final horizontal
velocity

In other words, the horizontal

velocity is CONSTANT. BUT
WHY?

Gravity DOES NOT work

horizontally to increase or
decrease the velocity.
Vertical “Velocity” Component
◼ Changes (due to gravity), does NOT cover
equal displacements in equal time periods.

Both the MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION change. As

the projectile moves up the MAGNITUDE
DECREASES and its direction is UPWARD. As it
moves down the MAGNITUDE INCREASES and the
direction is DOWNWARD.
Combining the Components
Together, these
components produce
what is called a
trajectory or path. This
path is parabolic in
nature.

Component Magnitude Direction

Horizontal Constant Constant
Vertical Changes Changes
Projectile Motion Vectors

rf = ri + v i t + 1 gt 2
2
The final position is the vector sum of
the initial position, the position resulting
from the initial velocity and the position
resulting from the acceleration.

Section 4.3
Range and Maximum Height of a Projectile

When analyzing projectile motion, two

characteristics are of special interes.t
The range, R, is the horizontal distance
of the projectile.
The maximum height the projectile
reaches is h.

Section 4.3
Height of a Projectile, equation

The maximum height of the projectile can be found in terms of the initial velocity
vector:
v 2i sin2  i
h=
2g

This equation is valid only for symmetric motion.

Section 4.3
Range of a Projectile, equation

The range of a projectile can be expressed in terms of the initial velocity vector:
v 2i sin2 i
R=
g

This is valid only for symmetric trajectory.

Section 4.3
More About the Range of a Projectile

Section 4.3
Range of a Projectile, final

The maximum range occurs at i = 45o .

Complementary angles will produce the same range.
▪ The maximum height will be different for the two angles.
▪ The times of the flight will be different for the two angles.

Section 4.3
 Horizontally Launched Projectiles
Projectiles which have NO upward trajectory and NO initial
VERTICAL velocity.
vox = vx = constant

voy = 0 m / s
Horizontally Launched Projectiles
To analyze a projectile in 2 dimensions we need 2
equations. One for the “x” direction and one for
the “y” direction. And for this we use kinematic #2.

x = vox t + 1 at 2
2
x = vox t y = 1 gt 2
2
Remember, the velocity is Remember that since the
CONSTANT horizontally, so projectile is launched
that means the acceleration horizontally, the INITIAL
is ZERO! VERTICAL VELOCITY is
equal to ZERO.
Horizontally Launched Projectiles
Example: A plane traveling with What do I What I want to
a horizontal velocity of 100 know? know?
m/s is 500 m above the
ground. At some point the vox=100 m/s t=?
pilot drops a bomb on a
target below. (a) How long is y = 500 m x=?
the bomb in the air? (b) How
far away from point above voy= 0 m/s
where it was dropped will it
land? g = -9.8 m/s/s

y = 1 gt 2 → −500 = 1 (−9.8)t 2
2 2
x = vox t = (100)(10.1) = 1010 m
102.04 = t 2 → t = 10.1 seconds
Vertically Launched Projectiles
NO Vertical Velocity at the top of the trajectory.

Vertical Vertical Velocity

Velocity increases on the
decreases way down,
on the way
upward Horizontal Velocity
is constant

Component Magnitude Direction

Horizontal Constant Constant
Vertical Decreases up, 0 Changes
@ top, Increases
down
Vertically Launched Projectiles
Since the projectile was launched at a angle, the
velocity MUST be broken into components!!!

vox = vo cos 
vo voy
voy = vo sin 

vox
Vertically Launched Projectiles
There are several
things you must
consider when doing
these types of
projectiles besides
using components. If
it begins and ends at
ground level, the “y”
displacement is
ZERO: y = 0
Vertically Launched Projectiles
You will still use kinematic #2, but YOU MUST use
COMPONENTS in the equation.

vo voy x = voxt y = voy t + 1 gt 2

2

vox vox = vo cos 
voy = vo sin 
Example
A place kicker kicks a football with a velocity of 20.0 m/s
and at an angle of 53 degrees.
(a) How long is the ball in the air?
(b) How far away does it land?
(c) How high does it travel?

vox = vo cos 
vox = 20 cos 53 = 12.04 m / s
voy = vo sin 
 = 
voy = 20sin 53 = 15.97 m / s
Example
A place kicker kicks a What I know What I want
football with a to know
velocity of 20.0 m/s vox=12.04 m/s t=?
and at an angle of 53 voy=15.97 m/s x=?
degrees.
y=0 ymax=?
(a) How long is the ball
in the air? g = - 9.8
m/s/s

y = voy t + 1 gt 2 → 0 = (15.97)t − 4.9t 2

2
−15.97t = −4.9t → 15.97 = 4.9t
2

t = 3.26 s
Example

A place kicker kicks a What I know What I want

football with a to know
velocity of 20.0 m/s vox=12.04 m/s t = 3.26 s
and at an angle of 53 voy=15.97 m/s x=?
degrees. y=0 ymax=?
(b) How far away does it g = - 9.8
land? m/s/s

x = vox t → (12.04)(3.26) = 39.24 m

Example
What I know What I want
to know
A place kicker kicks a vox=12.04 m/s t = 3.26 s
football with a velocity voy=15.97 m/s x = 39.24 m
of 20.0 m/s and at an
angle of 53 degrees. y=0 ymax=?
g = - 9.8
(c) How high does it m/s/s
travel?
y = voy t + 1 gt 2
2
CUT YOUR TIME IN HALF! y = (15.97)(1.63) − 4.9(1.63) 2

y = 13.01 m
Seatwork:

1. A pool ball leaves a 0.60-meter high table

with an initial horizontal velocity of 2.4 m/s.
Predict the time required for the pool ball to
fall to the ground and the horizontal distance
between the table's edge and the ball's
landing location.
Practice Problem

2. A cannon is fired with muzzle velocity of 150

m/s at an angle of elevation = 45°.
a) What is the maximum height the projectile
reaches?
b) What is the total time aloft?
c) How far away did the projectile land?
(Range)