Lesson 5 : Free Fall and the Acceleration of Gravity
Go to Physicsclassroom.com. Click “Physics Tutorial” and then “1-D Kinematics.” Do
parts a-e of “Lesson 5 : Free Fall and the Acceleration of Gravity.”
Read the material in each section and answer all the questions below. When you have
finished this activity, do Freefall Mini-Lab: Reaction Times.
Introduction to Free Fall
1. Define “freefall”.
The Acceleration of Gravity
2. Define “acceleration of gravity”.
3. What is the numerical value and unit of g, acceleration of gravity, on Earth?
g = ________
4. Fill in this table for an object free falling from rest:
time (s)
0
1
2
3
4
5
velocity (m/s)
5. How fast would an object falling from rest be going after 6 seconds? Use the
pattern in the chart above to help you figure this out.
Representing Free Fall by Graphs
6. Sketch a position versus time graph for a free-falling object that starts slows and
finishes with a large downward velocity.
7. Sketch a velocity versus time graph for the situation above.
8. What is the value and unit of the slope on the velocity versus time graph above?
How Fast? and How Far?
9. What is the formula for determining the velocity of a falling object after a time of t
seconds?
10. Use the formula above to check your answer to #5. Show your work below.
11. Calculate the velocity of a falling object after the times below. Show your work.
a) 8 s
b) 10 s
12. What is the formula for determining the distance which a free-falling object has
fallen from a position of rest?
13. Find the distance which a free-falling object has fallen from a position of rest after
the times below. Show your work.
a) 2 s
b) 8 s
c) 10 s
The Big Misconception
14. Describe, in your own words, what the “Big Misconception” is about freefall.