Motion Under Gravity

www.askiitians.com /iit-jee-physics/mechanics/motion-under-gravity.aspx

Whenever a body is released frrom a height, it travels vertically downward

towards the surface of earth.This is due to the force of gravitational attraction
exerted on body by the eareth. The acceleration produced by this force is
called acceleration due to gravity and is denoted by g. Value of g on
the surface of earth is taken to the 9.8 m/s2 and it is same for all the
bodies. It means all bodies (whether an iron ball or a piece of paper), when
dropped (u=0) from same height shoulfd fall with same rapidity and should
take same time to reach the earth. Our daily observation is contrary to this
concept. We find that iron ball falls more rapidlly than piece of paper. This is
due to the presence of air which offers different resistance to them. In the
absence of air both would have taken same time to reach the surface of
earth.

When a body is dropped from some height (earth's radius = 6400 km), it falls freely under gravity with constant
acceleration g (= 9.8 m/s 2) provided the air resistance is negligible small. The same set of three equations of
kinematics (where the acceleration remains constant) are used in solving such motion. Here, we replace
by and choose the direction of y-axis conveniently. When the y-axis is chosen positive along vertically
downward direction, we take as positive and use the equation as

v = u + gt, v 2 = u2 + 2gh, and h = ut + 1/2gt2

where h is the displacement of the body and u is

initial velocity of projection in the vertically downward
direction. However, if an object is projected vertically
upward with initial velocity u, we can take y-axis
positive in the vertically upward direction and the set
of equations reduces to

v = u - gt, v 2 = u2 - 2gh, and h = ut - 1/2gt 2

In order to avoid confusion in selecting as positive

or negative, it is advisable to take the y-axis as
positive along vertically upward direction and point of
projection as the origin. We can now write the set of
three equations in the vector form:

1/5
 ,

and

where h is the displacement of the body.

Problem:

The motion of a particle is described by the equation u = at. The

distance travelled by the particle in the first 4 second.

Solution:

Because for the motion u = at. So acceleration is uniform which is equal to a.

Therefore, Distance traveled = 1/2[(a)(4)2] = 8a

Problem:

A body moving with a constant retardation in straight line travels 5.7 m and 3.9 m in the 6th and 9th second,
respectively. When will the body come momentarily to rest?

Solution:

A body moving with initial velocity u and acceleration a, traverses distance S n in n thsecond of its motion.

Sn = u + (1/2)(2n - 1)a => 5.7 = u + (1/2)(2 x 6 - 1) a

or 5.7 = u + (11/2) a

and 3.9 = u + (1/2)(2 x 9 - 1)a or, 3.9 = u + (17/2) a

Solving eqns. (1) and (2) we get, u = 9 m/s and a = -0.6 m/s 2.

If the body stops moving after t seconds, then from the relation v=u+at

Thus, 0 = 9 + (-0.6)t or, t = (9/0.6)s = 15s

Problem (JEE Advanced):

A stone, thrown up is caught by the thrower after 6s. How high did it go and where was it 4 s after start? g = 9.8
m/s 2

Solution:

Time to go up and come back = 6s

Thus, time to reach the highest point = (6/2) s = 3s

From point of projection to the highest point we have

u = ?, v = 0, a = -9.8 m/s 2, t = 3s

2/5
Using the relation, v = u + at

0= u 9.8 3

Thus, u = 29.4 m/s 2

Maximum height, H = u 2/2g = [(29.4)2/2(9.8)] m =44.1 m

Let h = height of stone at 4s.

Using the relation, S = ut + at 2

So, h = [(29.4)(4)-1/2 (9.8) (4)2]m

= [117.6-78.4] m = 39.2 m

From the above observation we conclude that, the height would be 39.2 m.

Refer this video to know more about, Motion Under Gravity.

Problem:

A car moving in a straight line at 30 m/s slows uniformly to a speed of 10 m/s in 5 sec. Determine:

(a)the acceleration of the car,

(b)displacement in the third second.

Solution:

Let us take the direction of motion to be the +x direction.

(a) For the 5 s interval, we have t = 5 s, u = 30 m/s, v = 10 m/s

Using v = u + at, we have

a = (v-u)/t = (10-30)/5 = -4 m/s 2

(b) s = (displacement in 3s) - (displacement in 2s)

Here u = 30 m/s, a = -4 m/s 2, t2 = 2 s; t 3 = 3 s

s = 30(3-2) + 1/2(-4)(32-2 2) = 20 m

Alternatively

Sn = u + a/2(2n - 1)

Hence n = 3,

Therefore, s3 = 30 + ((-4))/2 [(3)- 1]= 20 m

Problem:

3/5
A bullet fired into a fixed target loses half of tis velocity after penetrating 3 cm. How much further it will penetrate
before coming to rest assuming that it faces constant resistance to motion.

Solution:

Let initial velocity of the bullet = u

After penetrating 3 cm its velocity becomes = u/2

From v 2 = u2 - 2as

(u/2)2 = u2 - 2as

Thus, a = u 2/8

Let further it will penetrate through distance x and stops at some point.

0 = (u/2) 2 - 2 (u 2/8)x

Therefore, x = 1 cm

Problem:

An anti-aircraft shell is fired vertically upwards with a muzzle velocity of 294 m/s. Calculate (a) the maximum height
reached by it, (b) time taken to reach this height, (c) the velocities at the ends of 20th and 40th second. (d) When will
its height be 2450 m? Given g = 9.8 m/s 2.

Solution:

(a) Here, the initial velocity u = 294 m/s and g = 9.8 m/s 2

Thus, the maximum height reached by the shell is,

H = us/2g = 2942/(2 x 9.8) = 4410 m = 4.41 km

(b) The time taken to reach the height is, T = u/g = 294/9.8 = 30 s

(c) The velocity at the end of 20 th second is given by

v = u - gt = 294 - 9.8 x 20 = 98 m/s upward,

and the velocity at the end of 40 th second is given by,

v = 294 - 9.8 x 40 = -98 m/s

The negative sign implies that the shell is falling downward.

(d) From the equation,

H = ut + (1/2)gt2 or 2450 = 2941 t - 1/2 x 9.8 t 2

or t2 - 60 t + 500 = 0

Therefore, t = 10 s and 50 s.
4/5
At t = 10 s, the shell is at a height of 2450 m and is ascending, and at the end of 50 s it is at the same height, but is
falling.

Acceleration of all these bodies is constant.

Acceleration is always directed downward.

All bodies, when dropped (u=0) from same height should fall with same rapidity and should take same time
to reach the earth.

Question 1

A stone is released with zero velocity from the top of a tower reaches the ground in 4 second, the height of the tower
is about

(a) 20 m (b) 40 m

(c) 80 m (d) 16 m

Question 2

A stone is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 30 m/s. The time taken for the stone to rise to its
maximum height is

(a) 0.326 s (b) 3.26 s

(c) 30.6 s (d) 3.06 s

Question 3

Two balls are dropped from same height at 1 second interval of time. The separation between the two balls after 3
seconds of the drop of first ball is:

(a) 50 m (b) 40 m

(c) 35 m (d) 25 m

Question 4

A ball takes t second to fall from a height h 1 and 2t seconds to fall from a height h 2. Then h 1/h2 is:

(a) 0.5 (b) 0.25

(c) 2 (d) 4

Q.1 Q.2 Q.3 Q.4

c d d b

5/5