Free Fall - Problems and Solutions

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Free fall – problems and solutions
Freely falling objects – problems and solutions
1. An object dropped from the top of a cliff. It is seen to hit the ground below after 3
seconds. Determine its velocity just before hitting the ground. Acceleration of gravity is
10 m/s2. Ignore air resistance.
Known :
Initial velocity (vo) = 0 (object dropped)
Time interval (t) = 3 seconds
Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

Wanted : Final velocity (vt)
Solution :
Acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the earth, its magnitude is 9.8 m/s 2. To
make calculation easier, we use 10 m/s2.
10 m/s2 or 10 m/s / 1 second, means that the speed increases linearly in time by 10 m/s
during each second.
After 1 second, object's speed = 10 m/s
After 2 seconds, object's speed = 20 m/s
After 3 seconds, object's speed = 30 m/s.
We also can use kinematic equations for motion at a constant acceleration, as shown
below.
vt = vo + a t
s = v o t + ½ a t2
vt2 = vo2 + 2 a s
Free fall has no initial velocity (vo = 0), so above equation can be changed as shown
below :
Equation of Free fall motion :
vt = g t …......... 1
h = ½ g t2 …......... 2
vt2 = 2 g h …........... 3
vt = g t
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vt = (10)(3)
vt = 30 m/s
Final velocity is 30 m/s
[irp]
2. A body falls freely from rest, from a height of 25 m. Find (a) The speed with which it
strikes the ground. (b) The time it takes to reach the ground.
Acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Earth is 10 m/s2.

Known :
Height (h) = 5 meters

Wanted :
(a) Final velocity (vt)
(b) Time interval (t)
Solution :
Free fall's equation :
vt = g t
h = ½ g t2
vt2 = 2 g h
(a) Final velocity (vt)
vt2 = 2 g h = 2(10)(5) = 100

vt = 10 m/s
(b) Time interval (t)
h = ½ g t2
5 = ½ (10) t2
5 = 5 t2
t2 = 5/5 = 1
t = 1 second
[irp]
3. A ball dropped from a height. Find (a) Acceleration (b) Distance after 3 seconds (c)
Time in air if final velocity is 20 m/s. Acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s2
Known :

Wanted :
(a) Acceleration (a)
(b) Distance or height (h) if time elapsed (t) = 3 seconds
(c) Time interval (t) if vt = 20 m/s
Solution :
Free fall's equation :
vt = g t
h = ½ g t2
vt2 = 2 g h
(a) Acceleration (a)
Acceleration = acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s 2. It means speed increase by 10 m/s

each second.
(b) Distance or height (h) after t = 3 seconds
h = ½ g t2 = ½ (10)(3)2 = (5)(9) = 45 meters

(c) Time elapsed (t) if vt = 20 m/s
vt = g t
20 = (10) t
t = 20 / 10 = 2 seconds
Down motion in free fall - problems and solutions
1. A ball is thrown vertically downward with initial speed 10 m/s and reach the ground
in 2 seconds. Find final speed just before the ball hits the ground. Acceleration of
gravity (g) = 10 m/s2. Ignore air resistance.
Known :
Initial velocity (vo) = 10 m/s
Time elapsed (t) = 2 seconds

Wanted : Final velocity (vt)
Solution :
Acceleration 10 m/s2 means speed increase by 10 m/s each second. After 3 second,
speed = 30 m/s.
Final velocity = 10 m/s + 20 m/s = 30 m/s.
Kinematic equations for motion at constant acceleration, as shown below :
vt = vo + a t …....... 1
h = vo t + ½ a t2 …....... 2
vt2 = vo2 + 2 a h …....... 3

vt = vo + g t
vt = 10 + (10)(2)
vt = 10 + 20 = 30 m/s
Final velocity = vt = 30 m/s
[irp]
2. A stone is thrown vertically downward from a bridge with initial speed 5 m/s and
reach the water in 2 seconds. Calculate the height of the bridge.
Known :
Time elapsed (t) = 2 seconds
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

Wanted : the height of the bridge (h)
Solution :
h = vo t + ½ g t 2
h = (5)(2) + ½ (10)(2)2
h = 10 + (5)(4)
h = 10 + 20
h = 30 meters
[irp]
3. A ball is thrown vertically downward with initial speed 10 m/s from a height of 80
meters. Find (a) Time in air (b) Final velocity just before ball strikes the ground.
Known :
height (h) = 80 meters


Wanted :
(a) Time interval (t)
(b) Final velocity (vt)
Solution :
Final velocity :
vt2 = vo2 + 2 g h
vt2 = (10)2 + 2(10)(80) = 100 + 1600 = 1700

vt = 41 m/s
Time interval (t) :
vt = vo + g t
41 = 10 + (10)(t)
41 – 10 = 10 t
31 = 10 t
t = 31 / 10 = 3,1 seconds
(b) Final velocity (vt) ?
vt = 41 m/s
Up and down motion in free fall - problems and solutions
1. A person throws a ball upward into the air with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. Calculate
how high it goes. Ignore air resistance. Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2.
Solution
We use one of these kinematic equations for motion at constant acceleration, as shown
below.
vt = vo + a t
s = v o t + ½ a t2
vt2 = vo2 + 2 a s
Known :
We choose the upward direction as positive and downward direction as negative.
Initial velocity (vo) = 20 m/s (positive upward)
Acceleration of gravity (g) = - 10 m/s2 (negative downward).

Final velocity (vt) = 0 (it's speed is zero for an instant at highest point)
Wanted : Maximum height (h)
Solution :
vt2 = vo2 + 2 g h
0 = (202) + 2(-10) h
0 = 400 - 20 h
400 = 20 h
h = 400 / 20 = 40 / 2 = 20 meters
[irp]
2. A person throws a stone upward at 20 m/s while standing on the edge of a cliff, so
that the stone can fall to the base of the cliff 100 meters below.
(a) How long does it take the ball to reach the base of the cliff (b) Final velocity just
before stone strikes the ground. Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s 2. Ignore air
resistance.
Known :
We choose the upward direction as positive and downward direction as negative.
High (h) = -100 meters (negative because final position below initial position)
Initial velocity (vo) = 20 m/s (positive upward)
Acceleration of gravity (g) = -10 m/s2 (negative downward)

Wanted :
(a) Time in air or time interval (t)
(b) Final velocity (vt)
Solution :
Known :
High (h) = -100 meters (negative because final position below initial position)
Initial velocity (vo) = 20 m/s (positive upward), Acceleration of gravity (g) = -10 m/s 2
(negative downward).
h = vo t + ½ g t 2
-100 = (20) t + ½ (-10) t2
-100 = 20 t - 5 t2
-5 t2 + 20 t + 100 = 0
We use quadratic formula :
(b) Final velocity
vt2 = vo2 + 2 g h
vt2 = (202) + 2 (-10)(-100)
vt2 = 400 + 2000
vt2 = 2400
vt = 49 m/s

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Free fall – problems and solutions

Freely falling objects – problems and solutions

Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

Acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Earth is 10 m/s2.

Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

vt2 = 2 g h = 2(10)(5) = 100

Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

Acceleration = acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s 2. It means speed increase by 10 m/s

h = ½ g t2 = ½ (10)(3)2 = (5)(9) = 45 meters

Down motion in free fall - problems and solutions

Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

vt2 = vo2 + 2 a h …....... 3

Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

height (h) = 80 meters

Acceleration of gravity (g) = 10 m/s2

vt2 = (10)2 + 2(10)(80) = 100 + 1600 = 1700

Up and down motion in free fall - problems and solutions

Acceleration of gravity (g) = - 10 m/s2 (negative downward).

Acceleration of gravity (g) = -10 m/s2 (negative downward)

-100 = (20) t + ½ (-10) t2

(b) Final velocity

vt2 = (202) + 2 (-10)(-100)

vt2 = 400 + 2000

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