Vertical Projectile Motion in

One Dimension (1D)

 Explain what is meant by a projectile, i.e. an object
upon which the only force acting is the force of
gravity.
 Use equations of motion to determine the
position, velocity and displacement of a projectile
at any given time.
 Sketch position versus time (x vs. t), velocity
versus time (v vs. t) and acceleration versus time
(a vs. t) graphs for:
 A free-falling object
 An object thrown vertically upwards
 An object thrown vertically downwards
 Bouncing objects (restricted to balls)
 For a given x vs. t, v vs. t or a vs. t graph,
determine:
 Position
 Displacement
 Velocity or acceleration at any time t
 For a given x vs. t, v vs. t or a vs. t graph,
describe the motion of the object:
 Bouncing
 Thrown vertically upwards
 Thrown vertically downward
PROJECTILE
- Is the object upon the only
force acting is the force of
gravity.
- Free fall is an object moving
under the influence of
gravitational force only.
Sky diver
diving off cliff
What happens during the motion of a
ball that is thrown upwards into the air?
 vf = 0 vi = 0

a = g = 9,8
Time for the m/s2 down Time for the
upward journey downward
=t journey = t
a = g = 9,8
m/s2 down

vi = maximum vf = maximum
On returning to
value up value down
the point of
projection 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑣𝑓
 Describe the motion -
 The object starts with maximum velocity
as it leaves the throwers hand
 The object slows down as it rises in the air
 The object momentarily stops at the top
 The object speeds up as it descends
 The final velocity of the object when it
again reaches the throwers hand is the
same as when it left the throwers hand
 At all times the object accelerates
downwards due to the force of gravity.
ACCELERATION
 At any point during the journey the
acceleration of the object is equal to the
gravitational acceleration, g.
 a = 9,8 m/s2 down towards the earth.
 a is independent of the mass of the object.
 a is dependent upon
the distance from the
centre of the earth
 Equations of motion
vf = vi + a Δ t

Δy = vit + ½ a Δ t2

vf2 = vi2 + 2a Δy

Δy = (vf + vi) . Δ t
2
GRAPHS OF MOTION
THREE TYPES:
1. Position -time graph
2. Velocity-time graph
3. Acceleration-time graph
Various projectile motion:
1. free-falling object/object dropped(released)
2. Object thrown vertically downwards
3. Object thrown vertically upwards and returns to
the thrower’s hands
4. Object thrown vertically upwards and on it’s way
downwards, it passes the throwers hands and hits
the ground below
5. Bouncing objects
 Graphs of free falling objects or dropped
objects, Vi=0
:
Velocity/time
Disp./time Gradient of the
graph = - 9,8 m/s2
y(m) v(m/s)
t(s)

t(s)
Acceleration/time
a(m/s2 )
t(s)
a = g= -9,8 m/s2
down
examples
1. A stone is dropped from a 30m building
and hits the ground below .
Calculate:
1.1 the time it takes to hit the ground
below
1.2 the velocity at which the ball hits the
ground below
1.3 Draw the position-time, velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion.
Class activity
1. A steel ball is dropped from a tall
building and hits the ground in 4s.
Calculate;
1.1 the height of the building
1.2 the speed at which the ball hits the
ground
1.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
2. A ball is dropped from the top of a building that is 100
m high.

Calculate:
2.1The time that the ball was in the air.
2.2The velocity of the ball on hitting the ground.
2.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time and
acceleration-time graph for the entire motion of
the ball.
3. When a stone is dropped from a tall
building ,it reaches the ground with a velocity
of 27,5 m. s-1.
Calculate the:
3.1 time for which the stone was in the air.
3.2 height of the building.
3.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time and
acceleration-time graph for the entire motion
of the ball.
 Graphs of objects thrown vertically
downwards:
Velocity/time
Disp./time Gradient of the
graph = - 9,8 m/s2
y/m v/m/s
t(s)

t(s)
Acceleration/time
a/m/s2
t(s)
a = g= 9,8 m/s2
down
examples
1. A ball is thrown vertically downwards
from a tall building with a velocity
5 m. s-1 and hits the ground after 6s.
Calculate the:
1.1 the height of the building
1.2 the velocity at which the ball hits the
ground
1.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
2. A stone is thrown from the top of a cliff
and lands on the ground 5 s later. If the
stone is thrown with a speed of 20 m.s-1,
calculate the:
2.1 height of the cliff
2.2 velocity of the stone on hitting the
ground below.
2.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
Class activity
1. When a ball is thrown downwards from
the top of a building that is 100 m high, it
reaches the ground 4 s later. Calculate the
velocity of the ball:
1.1 when it was thrown.
1.2 on landing.
1.3 draw the position-time,velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
2. An iron ball is thrown vertically
downwards from the top of a high building.
The initial speed of the ball was 5 m.s-1 and
it struck the ground after
2,5 s. By neglecting air resistance, calculate
2.1 The speed at which the ball hits the
ground
2.2 The height of the building
2.3 draw the position- time, velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
 GRAPHS OF OBJECT THROWN VERTICALLY
UPWARDS AND RETURNS TO THE THROWER’S
HANDS
Velocity/time
Disp./time Gradient of the
graph = - 9,8m/s2
y(m) v(m/s)
t(s)

t(s)
Acceleration/time
a(m/s2 )
t(s)

a = g= 9,8m/s2
down
examples
1. A ball is thrown vertically upwards and
lands in the thrower’s hand 3 s later.
Calculate:
1.1The velocity of the ball when it was
thrown upwards.
1.2 The maximum height reached by the ball.
1.3 The final displacement of the ball.
1.4 draw the position- time, velocity-time
and acceleration-time graph for the entire
motion of the ball.
2. A stone is shot vertically upwards with an initial
velocity of 25 m.s-1. Calculate the:
2.1 Time that the stone was in the air.
2.2 Maximum height reached by the stone.
2.3draw the position- time, velocity-time and
acceleration-time graph for the entire motion of
the ball.
3. When a ball is shot vertically upwards, it lands at
its starting point after 4 s.
3.1 What is the velocity with which the ball was
shot up?
3.2 How high did the ball rise?
3.3draw the position- time, velocity-time and
acceleration-time graph for the entire motion of
the ball.
 Graphs of object thrown vertically upwards and passes the
thrower’s hands on it’s way downwards and hit the
thrower’s hands
Velocity/time
Disp./time Gradient of the
graph = - 9,8m/s2
y(m) v(m/s)
t(s)

t(s)

a(m/s2 ) Acceleration/time

t
a = g= 9,8m/s2
down
examples
1. Marshall stands on a platform and kicks a soccer ball
from 6 m above the ground vertically upwards into the
air with an initial velocity of 4 m•s-1. The ball hits the
ground
after 1,6 seconds. Ignore the effects of air resistance.
1.1 Calculate the maximum height the ball reaches
above the ground. (5)
1.2 Calculate the time taken for the ball to reach
maximum height. (3)
1.3 Draw a sketch graph of position versus time for the
motion of the ball from the moment it was kicked until
it hits the ground. (5)
2. A cannonball with a mass of 0,5kg is fired
vertically upwards from the top of a 14m high
platform at 40m•s-1. Take into account that the
canon is 1m high.
Calculate:
2.1 The maximum height the cannonball reaches
above the ground. (6)
2.2 The time taken to reach the maximum height.
(3)
2.3 The total time elapsed from launching until it
hits the ground. (5)
1.3 Draw a sketch graph of position versus time
for the motion of the ball from the moment it was
kicked until it hits the ground. (5)
Class activity
1. A boy stands at the edge of a high cliff. He
throws a stone vertically upwards with an
initial velocity of 10 m·s-1. The stone
strikes the ground at a point below the cliff
after 3,5 s. calculate the :
1.1 maximum height reached by the stone.
1.2 the time taken to reach the maximum
height
1.3 the velocity at which the stone hits the
ground.
1.4 draw the velocity –time, position-time and
acceleration-time graphs for the entire motion
of the stone. More problems on worksheet
 Graphs of object that are dropped or released from a
moving object ,Vi≠0.
Velocity/time
Disp./time Gradient of the
graph = - 10m/s2
v(m/s)
y(m)
t(s)

t(s)

a(m/s2 ) Acceleration/time

t
a = g= 9,8m/s2
down
example
1.A hot-air balloon is rising vertically at constant velocity.
When the balloon is at a height of 88 m above the ground,
a stone is released from it and hits the ground below after
6s. Ignore the effect of air resistance.
Calculate the:
1.1 velocity of the hot-air balloon at the instant the stone
is released.
1.3 maximum height reached by the stone.
1.4 the time taken to reach the maximum height
1.4 velocity at which the stone hits the ground
1.2 Draw a sketch graph of velocity versus time, position
versus time for the motion of the stone from the moment
it is released from the balloon until it strikes the ground.
Indicate the respective values of the intercepts on your
velocity-time graph.
Class activity
1.A hot air balloon is rising vertically at constant velocity
of 14,7 m∙s-1. When the balloon is at a height, y metres,
above the ground, a stone is released from the balloon.
The stone takes 1,5 s to reach its maximum height. The
stone is observed to hit the ground with a velocity of
44,1 m∙s-1.
In solving the following problems, ignore the effects of air
resistance and take all downward motion as negative.
1.1 what is the acceleration of the stone while inside the
baloon?
1.2 what is the acceleration of stone while outside the
balloon
1.3 Determine how high, above the ground, the hot
air balloon was when the stone was released from
it. (5)
1.4 Calculate the total time that elapsed from the
moment the stone was released from the hot air
balloon to the moment the stone hit the ground.
(5)
1.5 Sketch the position−time and velocity-time
graph for the entire motion of the stone from the
moment it was released from the hot air balloon to
the moment it hit the ground. Indicate the relevant
time values on the graph. (6)
More problems on worksheet