Vertical Motion
Regents Physics
Mr. Rockensies
Vertical Motion
 All objects fall toward the Earth when dropped. We refer to
this is acceleration due to gravity.
 When objects are dropped, it appears that larger, heavier
objects fall faster than lighter objects.
 Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, astronomer,
mathematician, and philosopher, found that objects actually
fall at the same rate.
 He concluded, based on a Thought Experiment, that if air
resistance (friction) is removed then all objects will fall at the
same rate.
Thought Experiment
1
1
2
2
a1
a2
Assume a1 < a2
a
Is a > a2?
or a < a2?
Penny vs. Paper
 Take a coin and a disc of paper of approximately the same
diameter.
 First drop the coin and paper side by side, simultaneously
 Notice how long it takes the paper to hit the ground after the
coin
 Now try putting the paper disc on top of the coin and
dropping them together. What do you notice about when the
two objects hit the ground? Try dropping them a couple of
different ways and notice how much time it takes for each
object to hit the ground.
Free Fall Objects in vacuum
Free Fall Video