Chapter 2, Section 3

Free Fall

Free Fall

• Free fall – in the absence of air resistance, all objects dropped near the surface of the Earth fall with a constant acceleration

• Denoted by the symbol g• g = - 9.81 m/s2 (negative because

acceleration is directed downward)

Graphical Analysis of velocity vs. time graph

• Straight line slope indicates acceleration is constant (fig. 2-16)• There is an instant where velocity is 0

(when ball reaches peak of upward motion)