Uniform Acceleration

By Eli Jaggard
For use with The Physical World Lab
 Uniform Acceleration

Table of Contents

 What is Gravity?
 Gravity versus Air Resistance
 Feather/Hammer Drop on Earth
 Feather/Hammer Drop on Moon
 Gravity versus Horizontal Motion
 Uniform Acceleration

What is Gravity?

Gravity is a force of attraction only

between bodies that have mass. The word
'gravity' comes from the Latin word
"gravitas," meaning 'weight‘.
 Uniform Acceleration

What is Gravity?

The acceleration produced in the body on

account of the force of gravity is called
acceleration due to gravity. It is denoted by
the letter ‘g.’
 Uniform Acceleration

What is Gravity?

At a given place, the value of

acceleration due to gravity is the same for all
bodies regardless of their masses, density or
shape. However, it differs from place to place
on the surface of earth and it also varies with
altitude and depth.
 Uniform Acceleration

Gravity versus Air Resistance

Many people find it hard to believe that if

they drop a feather and a hammer at the
same time, the two should hit the ground at
the same time. On Earth the hammer will
always strike the ground first.
 Uniform Acceleration

Gravity versus Air Resistance

This is because the hammer has less air

resistance than does the feather. The reason
the hammer hits first is because Earth has an
atmosphere, not because the hammer is
heavier!
 Uniform Acceleration

Feather/Hammer Drop on Earth

As you already
know, on Earth the
hammer will hit the
ground first
 Uniform Acceleration

Feather/Hammer Drop on Moon

But, in the absence

of an atmosphere, the
two will hit at the same
time!
 Uniform Acceleration

Gravity versus Horizontal Motion

When an object has motion both vertically

and horizontally, it is said to have a projectile
motion.
 Uniform Acceleration

Gravity versus Horizontal Motion

In projectile motion, the horizontal motion

and the vertical motion are independent of
each other; that is, neither motion affects the
other.
 Uniform Acceleration

Gravity versus Horizontal Motion

Consider the two balls. The fact that one ball is

moving horizontally while it is falling has no
effect on its vertical motion.