Special Case: Constant Acceleration

  • For cases of constant acceleration, we can derive a set of "kinematic equations" that will allow us to solve for unknown quantities

    — V 02 -l- 2ClAľ V )t -at 2 Ax — vt — no Ax no v no t no a no v

Deriving the Kinematic Equations

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Free Fall

  • When the only force acting on an object is the force of gravity, we refer to object's motion as free fall

  • This includes objects that have a non-zero initial velocity

Air Resistance

  • If we drop a ball and a sheet of paper, it is obvious they don't fall at the same rate

  • If we could remove all the air from the room, however, we would find that they fall at the same rate

  • We will analyze the motion of objects by neglecting air resistance (a form of friction) for the time being

Acceleration Due to Gravity

  • Near the surface of Earth, objects accelerate downward at a rate of 9.8m/s2

  • We call this acceleration the acceleration due to gravity (g)

  • More accurately, g is referred to as the gravitational field strength

  • As you move further away from Earth, g decreases

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