2.06 Free Fall Sample Problems
What Students will solve free fall word problems.
Why Free fall problems lets one determine some interesting information. In this problem set make sure to show work correctly.
Instructions
Answer the following questions using the attached rubric for solving word problems.
42. A construction worker accidentally drops a brick from a high scaffold.
a. What is the velocity of the brick after 4.0 s?
b. How far does the brick fall during this time?
43. Suppose for the previous problem you choose your coordinate system so that the opposite direction is positive.
a. What is the brick’s velocity after 4.0 s?
b. How far does the brick fall during this time?
44. A student drops a ball from a window 3.5 m above the sidewalk. How fast is it moving when it hits the sidewalk?
45. A tennis ball is thrown straight up with an initial speed of 22.5 m/s. It is caught at the same distance above the ground.
a. How high does the ball rise?
b. How long does the ball remain in the air? Hint: The time it takes the ball to rise equals the time it takes to fall.
46. You decide to flip a coin to determine whether to do your physics or English homework first. The coin is flipped straight up.
a. If the coin reaches a high point of 0.25 m above where you released it, what was its initial speed?
b. If you catch it at the same height as you released it, how much time did it spend in the air?
47. Maximum Height and Flight Time Acceleration due to gravity on Mars is about one-third that on Earth. Suppose you throw a ball upward with the same velocity on Mars as on Earth.
a. How would the ball’s maximum height compare to that on Earth?
b. How would its flight time compare?
48. Velocity and Acceleration - Suppose you throw a ball straight up into the air. Describe the changes in the velocity of the ball. Describe the changes in the acceleration of the ball.
49. Final Velocity - Your sister drops your house keys down to you from the second floor window. If you catch them 4.3 m from where your sister dropped them, what is the velocity of the keys when you catch them?
50. Initial Velocity - A student trying out for the foot- ball team kicks the football straight up in the air. The ball hits him on the way back down. If it took 3.0 s from the time when the student punted the ball until he gets hit by the ball, what was the foot- ball’s initial velocity?
51. Maximum Height - When the student in the previ- ous problem kicked the football, approximately how high did the football travel?
52. Critical Thinking - When a ball is thrown verti- cally upward, it continues upward until it reaches a certain position, and then it falls downward. At that highest point, its velocity is instantaneously zero. Is the ball accelerating at the highest point? Explain.
| Setting Up the Problem | ||
|---|---|---|
| Please check all that apply. | ||
| 25 | System was drawn out to better define the problem (e.g., particle model, vector model, sketch of setup). (if applicable) | |
| 10 | All known variables were listed and identified. | |
| 10 | All known variables' units were included. | |
| 2 | Unknown variable was identified and list with a "?" with correct units. | |
| 5 | Original equation(s) were identified and written out. | |
| 10 | Original equation(s) were used to derive the working equation to be used. (if applicable) | |
| 5 | Substitue known variables into working equation. | |
| 6 | Problem solved for final solution with units. One should always check to see if answer is reasonable and units correct. | |
| Word Problems Worked | ||
| Please check all that apply. | ||
| 75 | Where all 15 problems worked? (Subtract points not made in box below.) | |
| Total: 0 | ||
My Work
Standards
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PASS: Science > Physics > Physics > S.1 > O.1
The motion of an object can be described by its position, direction, and speed.
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