Today we talk about motion in 1D under gravity.

We begin with this question…….

You throw a ball straight upward. No air resistance. When it

reaches the top of its trajectory its acceleration is:



A) Zero

B) Straight up

C) Straight down

D) Depends on the mass of the ball.

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+y

Top of its trajectory

2
4

change in velocity dv
a= = = −9.8m / s 2 = −g
elapsed time dt

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+y


2
4

Vector: v = speed + direction
Consider the velocity vector just before
and after the top:

   
v4 = v2 + Δv
   
v2  v4 v2

    Δv
 Δv v4 − v2
a= = 
Δt Δt v4
Tip-to-Tail addition

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 Assignments

You should have already:

•  Read Chs. 1 & 2 of Wolfson’s text and/or Prof. Dubson’s notes.

•  Handed in CAPA #1 and Recitation HW #1.

For next week:

•  Begin Ch. 3.

•  Do CAPA set #2 by Tues eve at midnight.

•  Do Recitation Homework #2 (found on course web site under
Tutorials, Assignments).

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A particularly important type of constant acceleration:


Free fall = an object subjected only to the force of



gravity.



Experimental Fact: An object in free fall near earth’s

surface has an acceleration = 9.8 m/s2 downward.

Magnitude of the acceleration = +9.8 m/s2 = g.





If the paper and the book are released from the same
height at the same time, which will hit the floor first:



(A) Paper

(B) Book

(C) At the same time

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If you drop an object in the absence of air resistance, it
accelerates downward at 9.8 m/s2. If instead, you throw
it downward, its downward acceleration after release is:



A) Less than 9.8 m/s2,

B)  9.8 m/s2,

C) More than 9.8 m/s2.

Recall: the experimental fact that when an object is in free fall the
acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2 downward. After you release this
object it is then in free fall, even if you threw it very hard. It has a big
velocity because your threw it but its acceleration is just 9.8 m/s2.

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Last time:

Course mantra is: Velocity is not acceleration and
acceleration is not velocity.

Δx displacement
v= =
Δt elapsed time

Δv change in velocity
a= =
Δt elapsed time

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 Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Last time we saw:

a = const
v(t) = v0 + at dx dv
x(t) v(t) = a(t) =
1 2 dt dt
x(t) = x0 + v0t + at
2 dx 2
= 2
v(x) = v02 + 2(x − x0 ) dt
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To investigate the relation between position, velocity, and acceleration under non-
constant acceleration experiment with “Moving Man” PhET Applet:

http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=The_Moving_Man

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 Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Now discuss Galileo’s Kinematic

Equations for motion under constant
acceleration:

⎧v(0) = v0
Initial conditions:
⎨
⎩ x(0) = x0


Galileo Galilei

a = const (1564 – 1642)



v(t) = v0 + at He derived these formulas in
1 2 his book “Discourses and
x(t) = x0 + v0t + at Mathematical Demonstrations
2 Related to Two New Sciences”
v 2 (x) = v02 + 2a(x − x0 ) published in 1638 using
Euclidean geometry (and not
L5      F  9/5/14   even algebra).
10  
Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

a = const Equation relates

v(t) = v0 + at (v,t)

Note:

1 2
x(t) = x0 + v0t + at (x,t)
When position changes
2 vertically we typically
replace x with y.

v 2 (x) = v02 + 2a(x − x0 ) (v,x)

v0 + v
v=
2
Experimental Fact: For all objects in free fall near the surface

of the earth:

 
a = +9.8 m / s 2
direction of a = down

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Constant acceleration equations:

const a ⎯⎯
→ linear v(t) ⎯⎯
→ quadratic x(t)

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Constant acceleration equations:

const a ⎯⎯
→ linear v(t) ⎯⎯
→ quadratic x(t)

Δv v f − vi v − v0
a= = = ⎯⎯
→ v = v0 + at ✔
Δt t f − ti t−0

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Constant acceleration equations:

const a ⎯⎯
→ linear v(t) ⎯⎯
→ quadratic x(t)

x(t) = b + ct + dt 2
(b,c,d = const)
dx
v0 + at = v(t) = = c + 2dt
dt
1 1 2
∴c = v0 d= a ⎯⎯→ x = b + v0t + at
2 2
1 2
x0 = x(t = 0) = b ⎯⎯
→ x = x0 + v0t + at ✔
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 Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

a = const Equation relates

✔ v(t) = v0 + at (v,t)

Note:

1 2
✔ x(t) = x0 + v0t + 2 at (x,t)
When position changes
vertically we typically
replace x with y.

✔ v 2 (x) = v02 + 2a(x − x0 ) (v,x)

v0 + v
v=
2
Experimental Fact: For all objects in free fall near the surface

of the earth:

 
a = +9.8 m / s 2
direction of a = down

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Under constant acceleration the plot of velocity versus

time is linear:

v
The average of the linear plot at
v(t)
left is halfway from time t = 0
and time t. Bu half way on the t
v (t) • axis is also half way on the v
axis:

v0
v0 + v(t)
v (t) = v(t / 2) =
2
t/2
t

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 Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

a = const Equation relates

✔ v(t) = v0 + at (v,t)

Note:

1 2
✔ x(t) = x0 + v0t + 2 at (x,t)
When position changes
vertically we typically
replace x with y.

✔ v 2 (x) = v02 + 2a(x − x0 ) (v,x)

✔ v = v0 + v = v0 + at
1
⎯⎯
→ x(t) = x0 + vt
2 2
Experimental Fact: For all objects in free fall near the surface

of the earth:

 
a = +9.8 m / s 2
direction of a = down

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Let’s consider how these equations are used:

Physical situation:

v = v0 + at A ball dropped or thrown downward.

To use this equation we need a
coordinate system and knowledge v = v0 − gt
of the “initial conditions”.

+y
Linear Equation:



a = −g
y = mx + b
v = −gt + v0

slope intercept

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2)

Let’s consider how these equations are used:

Physical situation:

v = v0 + at A ball dropped or thrown downward.

To use this equation we need a
coordinate system and knowledge v = v0 − gt
of the “initial conditions”.

+y
Dropped v Thrown Downward
v
a = −g v0 = 0 t t
Slope = -g

v0 < 0
Slope = -g

Slope = -g
Slope = -g

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Intercept = v0 <19  0

Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2) -- Applications

Example: A person drops from a 4th story window and falls 15 m to a
waiting net.

(1) What is her velocity on impact?
x0 = 15 m

x0 = 15 m

x = 0

a = -g

+x
v0 = 0

v(x=0) = ?

a = -g


Which equation should be used?

A)  v = v0 + at

B)  x = x0 + v0t + at2/2

x=0
C)  v2 = v02 + 2a(x-x0)

D)  x = x0 + v t

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2) -- Applications

Example: A person drops from a 4th story window and falls 15 m to a
waiting net.

(1) What is her velocity on impact?
x0 = 15 m

x0 = 15 m

x = 0

a = -g

+x
v0 = 0

v(x=0) = ?

a = -g


v2 = v02 + 2a (x - x0)

= 0 – 2g(0 – x0) = 2gx0



x=0 v
= ± 2gx0 = ± 2(9.8)(15)
= ± 17.1 m/s (negative)

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Kinematics in 1D (Ch. 2) -- Applications

Example: A person drops from a 4th story window and falls 15 m to a
waiting net.

(2) When will she impact the net?
x0 = 15 m x = 0

x0 = 15 m
a = -g v0 = 0

v(x=0) = -17.1 m/s

+x
t(x=0) = ?



a = -g

Which equation should be used?

A)  v = v0 + at

B)  x = x0 + v0t + at2/2

x=0
C)  v2 = v02 + 2a(x-x0)

D)  x = x0 + v t

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