FREE-FALLING BODY

h = υo t + ½ g t 2 g = 9.81 m/s2
υ = υo + g t = 32.2 ft/s2
υ2 = υo2 + 2 g h

Use:
+ g for downward motion
– g for upward motion
EXAMPLES
1. Assuming that a cannon ball was fired vertically upwards from elevation 0 + 00 m above sea level
with an initial velocity of 120 kph, what elevation will the cannon ball reach before returning back
to earth?
υ=0

h=?
υo = 120 km/hr (1000 m/km)(1 hr/3600 s) = 33.333 m/s

υ2 = υo2 + 2 g h
02 = (33.333)2 + 2 (- 9.81) h
h = 56.63 m
The cannon ball will return to earth at elev. 0 + 56.63 m above sea level.

2. A stone is thrown vertically upward and returns to earth in 10 seconds. What was its initial velocity
and how high did it go?

t1 = 5 sec
Note: The time of travel from origin to highest point
is equal to the time of travel from highest point
to origin.
h=?
υo = ?

t2 = 5 sec

υ = υo + g t1 ; t1 = 5 sec
0 = υo + (- 9.81 m/s2)(5 s)
υo = 49.05 m/s
h = υo t1 + ½ g t12
h = 49.05 m/s (5 s) + ½ (- 9.81 m/s2)(5 s)2
h = 122.625 m
3. Two boys are standing in two places with a difference of 2.2 meters in elevation. If they
simultaneously threw a stone each vertically upward with velocities of 8.5 m/s and 13 m/s,
compute the following:
a. The time that will elapse before the two stones will be at the same height.
b. Height when the two stones will be at the same elevation on their upward travels.

h = υo t + ½ g t2
= 8.5 t + ½ (- 9.81) t2
h h = - 4.905 t2 + 8.5 t
8.5 m/s
h + 2.2 = υo t + ½ g t2
h + 2.2 = 13 t + ½ (- 9.81) t2
13 m/s
h + 2.2 = 13 t – 4.905 t2
2.2 m h = - 4.905 t2 + 13 t – 2.2
Equate:
- 4.905 t2 + 8.5 t = - 4.905 t2 + 13 t – 2.2
4.5 t = 2.2
t = 0.49 sec
Subst:
h = - 4.905 (0.49)2 + 8.5 (0.49)
h = 2.99 m
4. A stone is dropped in a well and 5 seconds later the sound of the splash is heard. If the velocity of
sound is 340 m/s, what is the depth of the well?
t2

h=?
υs = 340 m/s
t1

For the stone:

h = υo t1 + ½ g t12 ; υo = 0
h = 0 + ½ (9.81) t12
h = 4.905 t12
For the sound:
h = υs t2
h = 340 t2
Equate:
4.905 t12 = 340 t2 ; t1 + t2 = 5 s
t2 = 5 – t1
4.905 t12 = 340 (5 – t1) = 1700 – 340 t1
4.905 t12 + 340 t1 – 1700 = 0
- 340 ± 3402 – 4 (4.905)(-1700)
t1 =
2(4.905)
t1 = 4.684 sec
 Subst.
h = 4.905 (4.684)2
h = 107.615 m
5. A stone is dropped from a high altitude, 3.0 seconds later another stone is projected vertically
downward with a speed of 45 m/s. When and where will the second overtake the first?
υ1 = 0 υ2 = 45 m/s

h=?

t (t – 3)

1st stone:
h = υo t + ½ g t2 ; υo = 0
h = 0 + ½ (9.81) t2
h = 4.905 t2
2nd stone:
h = υo (t – 3) + ½ g (t – 3)2 ; υo = 45 m/s
= 45 (t – 3) + ½ (9.81)(t – 3)2
= 45 t – 135 + 4.905 t2 – 29.43 t + 44.145
h = 4.905 t2 + 15.57 t – 90.855
Equate:
4.905 t2 = 4.905 t2 + 15.57 t – 90.855
15.57 t = 90.855
t = 5.835 sec
Subst.
h = 4.905 (5.835)2 = 167 m

6. If a stone is dropped from a balloon while ascending at the rate of 7.50 m/s reaches the ground in
6 seconds, what was the height of the balloon when the stone was dropped?
2 t1-2 (HIGHEST POINT)

h υ2 – υo 2 0 – (7.5)2
h = = = 2.87 m
1 2g 2 (- 9.81)
υ – υo 0 – 7.5
t1-2 = = = 0.765 sec
g - 9.81
H t2-3 = 6 – 0.765 = 5.235 sec
H + h = υo t + ½ g t2
H + 2.87 = 0 (t) + ½ (9.81)(5.235)2
t2-3 (GROUND) H = 131.42 m.
3
7. From a helicopter rising vertically with a velocity of 8 m/s, a weight is dropped and reaches the
ground in 18 seconds. How high above the ground was the helicopter when the weight was
dropped and with what velocity does the weight strikes the ground?
8 m/s
2

3 υ=?

υ2 – υo 2 0 – (8)2
h = = = 3.262 m
2g 2 (- 9.81)
υ – υo 0–8
t1-2 = = = 0.815 sec
g - 9.81
H + h = υ2 t + ½ g t2 ; t = t2-3 = 18 – 0.815 = 17.185 sec
2
H + 3.262 = 0 + ½ (9.81)(17.185)
H = 1445.30 m
υ = υo + g t = 0 + 9.81 (17.185)
υ = 168.58 m/s
CURVILINEAR TRANSLATION (Projectile Motion)
Resolve the motion into x and y components and use the formulas in rectilinear translation.
B
P
υo
y H
υy
θ C
O υx
x
R
Let υo = initial velocity
x and y components:
υx = υo cos θ
υy = υo sin θ
At any point:
υy = υo sin θ – g t (υy is positive if directed upward and negative if directed downward)
Coordinates of the projectile at any point P in its path:
x = υx t = υo t cos θ - - - - - - - eq. 1
y = υy t – ½ g t = υo t sin θ – ½ g t2 - - - eq. 2
2

x
From eq. 1, t =
υo cos θ
Substitute in eq.2
2
x g x
y = υo sin θ –
υo cos θ 2 υo cos θ
g x2
y = x tan θ – - - - - - - eq. 3 (y is negative at any point
2 υo2 cos2 θ below the origin)
At point C, x = R , y = 0
Substitute in eq. 3
g R2
y = R tan θ –
2 υo2 cos2 θ
2 υo2 cos2 θ tan θ υo2
R = = (2 sin θ cos θ)
g g
υo2 sin 2θ
R = (maximum range)
g
Note: A projectile attains maximum range at θ = 45°.
 At highest point B, x = ½ R, y = H
R g (R/2)2
H = tan θ –
2 2 υo2 cos2 θ
υo2 sin θ cos θ sin θ g υo2 sin θ cos θ 2

H = • –
g cos θ 2 υo2 cos2 θ g
υo2 sin2 θ υo2 sin2 θ
= –
g 2g
υo2 sin2 θ
H = (maximum height)
2g
EXAMPLES
1. A shell leaves a mortar with a muzzle velocity of 500 ft. per second directed upward at 60° with
the horizontal. Determine the position of the shell and its resultant velocity 20 seconds after firing.
How high will it rise? What would be its maximum range on level ground?

P υx
υo = 500 ft/s υy υ
H y

θ = 60°
O
x
R

x = υo t cos θ = 500 ft/s (20 s) cos 60° = 5000 ft.

y = υo t sin θ – ½ gt2 = 500 ft/s (20 s) sin 60° – ½ (32.2 ft/s2)(20 s)2
y = 2220.25 ft.
P: (5000 ft, 2200.25 ft)
υx = υo cos θ = 500 ft/s cos 60° = 250 ft/s
υy = υo sin θ – gt = 500 sin 60° – 32.2 ft/s (20 s)
υy = - 210.987 ft/s - - - negative sign means υy is downwards.

υ = 2502 + (-210.987)2 = 327.13 ft/s

υo2 sin2 θ (500 ft/s)2 sin2 60°
H = = = 2911.49 ft.
2g 2 (32.2 ft/s2)
υo2 sin 2θ (500 ft/s)2 sin 2(60°)
R = = = 6723.80 ft.
g 32.2 ft/s2
2. A steel ball is projected upward from a level ground at an angle of 30° with the horizontal with a
velocity of 300 m/s. When will it fall back to the ground in seconds?
υy = 0
υo = 300 m/s t1
υoy h
θ = 30° t2

tT = t1 + t2
υy = υo sin θ – g t ; at highest point, υy = 0
0 = 300 sin 30° – 9.81 t1
t1 = 15.29 seconds
h = ½ gt22 ; h = highest point
υo2 sin2 θ (300)2 sin2 30°
h = =
2g 2 (9.81)
h = 1146.79 m
OR: υy2 = υoy2 – 2g h
0 = (300 sin 30°)2 – 2 (9.81) h
h = 1146.79 m
1146.79 = ½ (9.81) t22
t2 = 15.29 seconds
tT = 15.29 + 15.29 = 30.58 seconds
3. A ball is shot at ground level at an angle of 60° with the horizontal with an initial velocity of 100
m/s. Determine
a. the maximum height it could reach.
b. the maximum range, and
c. the time it will take to reach the ground.
υy = 0
υo = 100 m/s t1
υoy h
θ = 60° t2

R
Maximum height, h
υo2 sin2 θ (100)2 sin2 60°
h = = = 382.26 m
2g 2 (9.81)
OR: υy2 = υoy2 – 2g h
0 = (100 sin 60°)2 – 2 (9.81) h
h = 382.26 m
Maximum range, R
υo2 sin 2θ (100)2 sin 2 (60°)
R = = = 882.80 m
g 9.81
 Time to reach the ground, t
h = ½ gt12 OR R = υ cos θ (t)
382.26 = ½ (9.81)t12 882.80 = 100 cos 60° t
t1 = 8.83 seconds t = 17.66 seconds
t = 8.83 + 8.83 = 17.66 seconds
4. A projectile is fired with an initial velocity of 58.90 m/s upward at an angle of 30° to the horizontal
from a point 78.50 m above a level plane. What horizontal distance will it cover before it strikes the
level plane?
υo = 58.90 m/s

θ = 30°

y = 78.50 m

x =?
g x2
y = x tan θ –
2 υo2 cos2 θ
9.81 x2
- 78.50 = x tan 30° –
2 (58.90)2 cos2 30°
0.001885 x2 – 0.5773 x – 78.50 = 0
x2 – 306.26 x – 41644.562 = 0
- (-306.26) ± (306.26)2 – 4 (1)(-41644.562)
x =
2 (1)
x = 408.26 m
5. A stone is thrown upward at an angle of 30° with the horizontal. It lands 60 m measured
horizontally and 2 m vertically from its point of release. Determine the initial velocity of the stone in
m/s.
υo = ?

θ = 30°

y=2m

x = 60 m

g x2
y = x tan θ –
2 υo2 cos2 θ
9.81 (60)2
- 2 = 60 tan 30° –
2 υo2 cos2 30°
 35316
- 2 = 34.641 –
1.5 υo2
35316
= 36.641
1.5 υo2
υo = 25.35 m/s
6. A helicopter flying with a velocity of 160 kph at elevation 600 m above sea level dropped supply
bags to hit the campsite situated at elevation 300 m above sea level. How many kilometers from
the campsite where the bags dropped to hit the campsite. Disregard atmospheric pressure and
wind velocity.

El. 600 m υx = 160 km/hr (1000 m/km)(1 hr/3600/s)

υy = 0 = 44.444 m/s

y = 300 m

El. 300 m

x=?

x = υx t ; y = υy t +½ g t2 ; υy = 0
300 = ½ (9.81) t2
t = 7.82 seconds
x = 44.444 (7.82) = 347.58 m
x = 0.35 km
CE Board Nov. 2018
A projectile is fired with an initial speed of 196 m/s at an angle of 30º above the horizontal from the top
of a cliff 96.0 m high. Determine the time to reach maximum height.

υo = 196 m/s υy = 0
t=?
h
θ = 30°

y = 96 m

υy = υo sin θ – g t ; at highest point, υy = 0

0 = 196 sin 30° – 9.81 t
t = 10 seconds