Applying Free Fall Concepts to Problem-Solving

There are a few conceptual characteristics of free fall motion that will be of value when using the equations to analyze free
fall motion. These concepts are described as follows:
 An object in free fall experiences an acceleration of -9.8 m/s/s. (The - sign indicates a downward acceleration.) Whether
explicitly stated or not, the value of the acceleration in the kinematic equations is -9.8 m/s/s for any freely falling object.
 If an object is merely dropped (as opposed to being thrown) from an elevated height, then the initial velocity of the
object is 0 m/s.
 If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then it will slow down as it rises upward. The instant at
which it reaches the peak of its trajectory, its velocity is 0 m/s. This value can be used as one of the motion parameters
in the kinematic equations; for example, the final velocity (vf) after traveling to the peak would be assigned a value of 0
m/s.
 If an object is projected upwards in a perfectly vertical direction, then the velocity at which it is projected is equal in
magnitude and opposite in sign to the velocity that it has when it returns to the same height. That is, a ball projected
vertically with an upward velocity of +30 m/s will have a downward velocity of -30 m/s when it returns to the same
height.
These four principles and the four kinematic equations can be combined to solve problems involving the motion of free
falling objects. The two examples below illustrate application of free fall principles to kinematic problem-solving. In each
example, the problem solving strategy that was introduced earlier in this lesson will be utilized.
Luke Autbeloe drops a pile of roof shingles from the top of a roof located 8.52 meters above the ground. Determine the time required
for the shingles to reach the ground.

Diagram: Given: Find:

vi = 0.0 m/s
d = -8.52 m
t = ??
a = - 9.8 m/s2
d = vi • t + ½ • a • t2

-8.52 m = (0 m/s) • (t) + ½ • (-9.8 m/s2) • (t)2

-8.52 m = (0 m) *(t) + (-4.9 m/s2) • (t)2
-8.52 m = (-4.9 m/s2) • (t)2
(-8.52 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2
1.739 s2 = t2
t = 1.32 s
Rex Things throws his mother's crystal vase vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 26.2 m/s. Determine the height to which the
vase will rise above its initial height.

Diagram: Given: Find:

vi = 26.2 m/s
vf = 0 m/s
d = ??
a = -9.8 m/s2

vf2 = vi2 + 2 • a • d

(0 m/s)2 = (26.2 m/s)2 + 2 •(-9.8m/s2) •d

0 m2/s2 = 686.44 m2/s2 + (-19.6 m/s2) •d
(-19.6 m/s2) • d = 0 m2/s2 -686.44 m2/s2
(-19.6 m/s2) • d = -686.44 m2/s2
d = (-686.44 m2/s2)/ (-19.6 m/s2)
d = 35.0 m