Free Fall

• Air resistance is neglected and the acceleration is constant due to gravity.
• The acceleration of a freely falling body is called acceleration due to gravity.
  • Denote by letter \(g\) which has a value of \(-9.8 m/s^2\) or \(32 ft/s^2\) downward at the surface of the earth.
  • Every object experience this so this is also the most common type of force.
• Kinematics Equations can be used to analyze free fall.
• We may treat free fall as Uniformly Accelerated Motion.
• Since motion is along vertical the vertical direction.
  • we may use \(d_y\) instead of \(d_x\) and \(g\) instead of \(a\).

• In a vacuum, all objects fall with same acceleration.
• Equations for constant acceleration apply as usual.
• Near the Earth's surface.

a. Distances above the origin are positive. Below the origin are negative. b. Upward velocities are positive, downward velocities are negative. c. \(g\) is always negative. origin is point of release.

• The time required for the object to reach maximum height equals the time for it to return from its maximum height to its starting point.

• Shows that at any displacement above the point of release, the speed of the body during upward trip equals the speed during the downward trip.