Scribd
Upload
15 views17 pages

Ee Fall 2022 - For Students

The document discusses free fall motion, defining it as motion under the influence of gravity alone. It describes how position, velocity, and acceleration change with time during free fall. Equations of motion are provided. The effects of air resistance are described, including terminal velocity and differences in motion graphs with and without air resistance.

Uploaded by

加赛 郭
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views17 pages

Ee Fall 2022 - For Students

The document discusses free fall motion, defining it as motion under the influence of gravity alone. It describes how position, velocity, and acceleration change with time during free fall. Equations of motion are provided. The effects of air resistance are described, including terminal velocity and differences in motion graphs with and without air resistance.

Uploaded by

加赛 郭
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

Free fall

Ruoyu Tang
Objectives
•Know the definition of free fall.

•Describe how the values of the position, velocity, and acceleration


change during a free fall.

•Use the SUVAT equations and gravitational acceleration g to analyze


free-fall motion and solve functions.

•Plot the motion graph of free fall without air resistance.

•Describe the process of free fall with air resistance, the condition of
terminal velocity, as well as the v-t graph of parachute jump.
Definition of free fall

Which one falling faster？


A hammer or a feather？ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo8TaPVsn9Y
Time(s) Distance(m)
Definition of free fall 0 0
1 4.91
2 19.62
t=0
3 44.15
t=1s
4 78.48
t=2s
Time(s) Velocity
(m∙ 𝒔−𝟏 )
t=3s
0 0
1 9.81
2 19.62
t=4s 3 29.43
4 39.24
v-t graph of free fall
The v-t graph is a straight
line passing through the
origin.
For every increase of 1s,
there is the same 9.81m/s
increase in speed.

What’s the relationship


between v and t?
𝑣 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏𝑡
g : gravitational acceleration
Unit: m/𝒔𝟐
s-t graph of free fall

The s-t graph is a curved


line bending upwards.
The gradient getting larger
indicates accelerating in
speed.
the relationship satisfied
with:
𝑠 = 𝟒. 𝟗𝟏𝑡 2
𝟏 2
𝑠 = 𝒈𝑡
𝟐
Definition of free fall
An object free falling
downward from rest
𝒗 = 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 increases its velocity
at a constant rate
𝒔 = 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
（9.8mΤs ，19.6
𝒗 = 𝒈𝒕 mΤs ， 29.4 mΤs ， …）
𝟏 𝟐 each second of fall，
𝒔 = 𝒈𝒕
𝟐
using ∆𝒗 = 𝟗. 𝟖 × ∆𝒕

An object that is moving only because of the action of gravity is said to be free falling
SUVAT of free fall motion
• More generally speaking, Free fall is a
uniform accelerated motion.
• It satisfied with SUVAT formula system.

g g

g
Is this true free fall？
When air resistance exists
Air resistance dependent on
Smaller larger
surface, surface,
smaller air larger air
resistance resistance

1.The greater the speed, the greater 2. Surface area exposed to the air is
the air resistance. greater, then the air resistance is greater.
Free fall process when air resistance exists
At beginning During process Final state

𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝑭𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗

a=0
V=0
𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝟎 V ↑, 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 ↑
𝒗𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍=𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝒂↓

At the moment object starts to fall: When the object starts to fall: until:
V=0, 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝟎 V ↑, 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 ↑, 𝒂 ↓ V reach a certain value, 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝑭𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗
From this moment on, acceleration=0
Velocity remain constant, called
terminal velocity
𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 = 𝑭𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗
Remain at Uniform linear motion
Terminal velocity
 The highest velocity that can be achieved by an object that is falling
through a fluid, such as air or water.
 When terminal velocity is reached, the downward force of
gravity is equal to the sum of the object’s buoyancy and the drag
force.
 An object with a terminal velocity has zero net acceleration.

How Fast Is Terminal Velocity? How Far Do You Fall?


Depends on drag force and an object’s cross-section

A person falling through the air on Earth reaches If the skydiver pulls in his
terminal velocity after about 12 seconds, which arms and legs
covers about 450 meters about 195 km/hr (54 m/s) 320 km/hr (90 m/s)
Free fall motion graph with air resistance
s-t graph v-t graph a-t graph

v(m/s) a(m/s2)
S(m)

t(s) t(s) t(s)


With air resistance, it takes The air resistance is NOT The acceleration decreases
MORE TIME to cover same CONSTANT but rather decreases, as the object reaches at
distance, s-t graph drift to the the gradient decreases until terminal velocity, the rate of
right TERMINAL VELOCITY reached. change in acceleration
decreases as the rate of
change in velocity
gravity

• Open the parachute


v- t graph of parachute jump
Challenge
Please plot the a-t graph, s-t graph of parachute jump after class.
You can testify your graph by online simulation:
Falling with Parachute – Physics Lens

More practice, practice with the quiz:


2.3 Free Fall Motion | Physics - Quizizz

You might also like