SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION

General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption
Freely Falling Objects
1) A ripe mango, hanging from a branch, suddenly falls down to the ground. If the mango
acquired a final velocity of 8 m/s when it hit the ground, how high was the mango before
it fell?
(The initial velocity 𝒗𝒊 of the
mango as it is hanging from a
branch is 𝟎 𝒎/𝒔. Another given
is the acceleration due to gravity
denoted by, 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 .)
GIVEN:
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝑓 = −8 𝑚/𝑠 (downward)
𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
FIND:
𝑦 =?
SOLUTION:
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎𝑦 since 𝒂 = −𝒈,
𝟐 𝟐
⇒ 𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒚
⇒ (−8 𝑚/𝑠)2 = (0 𝑚/𝑠)2 − 2(9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 )(𝐲)
𝑚2 𝑚
⇒ 64 2 = (−19.6 2 ) (𝐲)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚2 1 𝑠2 𝑚 1 𝑠2
⇒ [64 2
][ ∙ ] = (−19.6 2 ) (𝐲) [ ∙ ], where we divide both sides by
𝑠 −19.6 𝑚 𝑠 −19.6 𝑚
the same factor so as to isolate the unknown 𝒚.
64
⇒ 𝑚=𝐲
−19.6
−3.27 𝑚 = 𝐲 (downward from the reference point or where the mango was hanging)

2) If a ball is released to fall freely down from the top of a building 30 meters high, how
many seconds will it take for the ball to reach the ground?
(The same with the previous example, 𝒗𝒊 = 𝟎 𝒎/𝒔 and 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 .)

GIVEN:
reference
𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑚/𝑠 𝑣𝑖 = 0 𝑚/𝑠
𝑦 = −30 𝑚 (downward from the reference point)
𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
FIND:
t =? (time when it hits the ground)
SOLUTION:
1
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 since 𝑎 = −𝑔,
𝟏
𝒚 = 𝒗 𝒊 𝒕 − 𝒈 𝒕𝟐 𝑚 30 m
𝟐 𝑔 = 9.8
𝑚 1 𝑚 𝑠2
⇒ −30𝑚 = (0 ) (𝐭) − (9.8 2 ) (𝐭 2 )
𝑠 2 𝑠
𝑚 2
⇒ −30𝑚 = (−4.9 2 ) (𝐭 )
𝑠
1 𝑠2 𝑚 2 )]
1 𝑠2
⇒ [−30𝑚] [ ∙ ] = [(−4.9 2 ) (𝐭 [ ∙ ]
−4.9 𝑚 𝑠 −4.9 𝑚
−30 2
⇒ 𝑠 = 𝐭2 √6.12 𝑠 2 = √𝐭 2 𝑡 =?
−4.9
⇒ 2.47 𝑠 = 𝐭
Page 1 of 6
 SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption
3) If Dr. Doug hits a tennis ball at rest vertically up at an initial velocity of 72 km/hr, how long
will the ball take to come back to where it started?
(Remember, the velocity 𝒗𝒉 of the ball at its highest point is 𝟎 𝒎/𝒔.) Point 2 𝑣 = 0 𝑚/𝑠
GIVEN: 𝑡 =?
ℎ
𝑣𝑖 = 72 km/hr
Convert km/hr to m/s:
𝑚
𝑘𝑚 1𝑠 𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝒗𝒊 = 72 ×
ℎ𝑟 3.6 𝑘𝑚
ℎ𝑟
𝑣𝑖 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 (upward)
𝑣ℎ = 0 𝑚/𝑠 (at the highest point)
𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
FIND: 𝐭 =?
SOLUTION 1: (From point 1 going up to point 2)
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 but since 𝑎 = −𝑔, we have
𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 − 𝒈𝒕 𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣ℎ ; 𝑡 = 𝑡ℎ reference 𝑡 =?
Substitute in, 𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 − 𝒈 𝒕
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚 Point 1
⇒ 0 = 20 − (9.8 2 ) (𝐭 𝒉 )
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
⇒ −20 = − (9.8 2 ) (𝐭 𝒉 )
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 1 𝑠2 𝑚 1 𝑠2
⇒ [−20 ] [ ∙ ] = [(9.8 2 ) (𝐭 𝒉 )] [ ∙ ]
𝑠 −9.8 𝑚 𝑠 −9.8 𝑚
−20
⇒ 𝑠 = 𝐭𝒉 2.04 𝑠 = 𝐭 𝒉
−9.8
Now we note that the time it takes for the ball to return to its initial position is
twice the time it takes to reach the highest point. Thus,
⇒ 𝒕 = 𝟐𝒕𝒉 = 2(2.04 𝑠)
⇒ 𝒕 = 4.08 seconds

SOLUTION 2: (Whole motion from point 1 to point 2 then back to point 1)

1
We use: 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 and since 𝑎 = −𝑔, we can write,
𝟏
𝒚= 𝒗𝒊 𝒕 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒕𝟐 .
Now we do substitution of the values. We have:
𝑚 1 𝑚
⇒ 0 = (20 ) (𝐭) − (9.8 2 ) (𝐭 2 )
𝑠 2 𝑠
⇒ 0 = 20𝑡 − 4.9𝑡 , which is a quadratic equation so use the quadratic formula (q.f.).
2

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 𝑚 𝑚
⇒𝑡= [𝑞. 𝑓. 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠: 𝑎 = −4.9 2 ; 𝑏 = 20 ; 𝑐 = 0 𝑚]
2𝑎 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 √ 𝑚 2 𝑚
−20 ± (20 ) − 4 (−4.9 2 ) (0 𝑚)
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
⇒𝑡= 𝑚
2 (−4.9 2 )
𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 2
−20 ± √(20 )
𝑠 𝑠
⇒𝑡= 𝑚
−9.8 2
𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
−20 + 20 −20 − 20
⇒ 𝑡1 = 𝑠 𝑠 𝑡2 = 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
−9.8 2 −9.8 2
𝑠 𝑠
⇒ 𝑡1 = 0 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒕𝟐 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟖 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔 (physically sensible value)
Page 2 of 6
 SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption
Additional Exercises on Vertical Motion at Constant Acceleration
1) Consider a stone on a planet FIVC ejected vertically upward from a height of 1.5 meters
above the ground with an initial velocity of 4 m/s. It hits the ground after 0.95 seconds.
a) What was the acceleration of the stone at its highest point?
b) What was the stone’s velocity at the highest point?
c) How many seconds did it take the stone to reach the highest point?
d) What was the velocity of the stone as it hit the ground? Give its magnitude and direction.
𝑚
𝑣ℎ = 0
𝑠
GIVEN: 𝑡 =?
𝑣𝑖 = 4 𝑚/𝑠 (upward)
𝑡 = 0.95 𝑠
𝑣ℎ = 0 𝑚/𝑠
FIND:
𝑎𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐶 =? (acceleration due to gravity of planet FIVC)
𝑡ℎ =? 𝑎FIVC =?
𝑣𝑓 =?
SOLUTION (a):
𝟏
𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊 𝒕 + 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐
[ The total displacement 𝒚 of the stone from its initial
position to the ground is (−𝟏. 𝟓 𝒎) [downward]. ] 𝑚
𝟏 𝑣𝑖 = 4
𝑠 reference
𝒚 = 𝒗 𝒊 𝒕 + 𝒂 𝒕𝟐
𝟐
𝑚 1
⇒ −1.5 𝑚 = (4 ) (0.95 s) + (𝑎𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐶 )(0.95 𝑠)2
𝑠 2
1
⇒ −1.5 𝑚 = 3.8 𝑚 + ( ) (0.9025 𝑠 2 )(𝑎𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐶 )
2
⇒ −1.5 𝑚 = 3.8 𝑚 + (0.45125 𝑠 2 )(𝑎𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐶 )
1.5 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

−1.5 𝑚 − 3.8 𝑚
⇒ = 𝑎𝐹𝐼𝑉𝐶
0.45125 𝑠 2
𝒎
⇒ −𝟏𝟏. 𝟕𝟒𝟓 𝟐 = 𝒂𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑪 (downward)
𝒔

SOLUTION (b): 𝒗𝒉 = 𝟎 𝒎/𝒔

𝑡 = 0.95 𝑠

SOLUTION (c): (From initial position to the highest point)

𝑣𝑓 =?
𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 + 𝒂𝒕 (𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣ℎ = 0 𝑚/𝑠)
⇒ 𝒗𝒉 = 𝒗𝒊 + 𝒂𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑪 𝒕𝒉
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
⇒ 0 = 4 + (−11.745 2 ) 𝒕𝒉
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
⇒ −4 = (−11.745 2 ) 𝒕𝒉
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 1 𝑠2 𝑚 1 𝑠2
⇒ [−4 ] [ ∙ ] = [(−11.745 2 ) 𝒕𝒉 ] [ ∙ ]
𝑠 −11.745 𝑚 𝑠 −11.745 𝑚
−4
⇒ 𝑠 = 𝒕𝒉 , 𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒 𝒔 = 𝒕𝒉
−11.745

SOLUTION (d): (From initial position to the ground)

𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 + 𝒂𝒕
⇒ 𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 + 𝒂𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑪 𝒕
𝑚 𝑚
⇒ 𝒗𝒇 = 4 + (−11.745 2 ) (0.95 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝒎
⇒ 𝒗𝒇 = −𝟕. 𝟏𝟓𝟖 𝟐
𝒔
Page 3 of 6
 SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption

2) An object on Earth is thrown straight down from the top of the building at a velocity of
20 m/s. It reaches the ground with a final velocity of 40 m/s.
a) How high is the building?
b) How long did it take for the object to reach the ground?
(Near the surface of the Earth, take the acceleration due to gravity as 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 .)
GIVEN:
𝑣𝑖 = −20 𝑚/𝑠 (downward)
𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑣𝑓 = −40 𝑚/𝑠 (downward)
reference
FIND:
𝑦 =? 𝑚
𝑡 =? 𝑣𝑖 = −20
𝑠
SOLUTION (a):
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎𝑦 since 𝑎 = −𝑔,
𝟐 𝟐
⇒ 𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗 𝒊 − 𝟐 𝒈 𝒚
𝑚 2 𝑚 2 𝑚
⇒ (−40 ) = (−20 ) − 2 (9.8 2 ) (𝐲)
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚2 𝑚2 𝑚
⇒ 1600 2 = 400 2 − (19.6 2 ) (𝐲)
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚2 𝑚2 𝑚 𝑚
⇒ 1600 2 − 400 2 = − (19.6 2 ) (𝐲) 𝑔 = 9.8 2
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
2
𝑚 𝑚 𝑦 =?
⇒ 1200 2 = (−19.6 2 ) (𝐲)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚2 1 𝑠2 𝑚 1 𝑠2
⇒ [1200 2 ] [ ∙ ] = [(−19.6 2 ) (𝐲)] [ ∙ ]
𝑠 −19.6 𝑚 𝑠 −19.6 𝑚
1200
⇒ 𝑚=𝒚
−19.6
⇒ −𝟔𝟏. 𝟐𝟐 𝒎 = 𝒚 (below the reference point)

SOLUTION (b): 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 since 𝑎 = −𝑔, 𝑣𝑖 = −40
𝑠
𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒊 − 𝒈𝒕
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
⇒ −40 = −20 − (9.8 2 ) (𝒕)
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
⇒ −40 + 20 = − (9.8 2 ) (𝒕)
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚
⇒ −20 = − (9.8 2 ) (𝒕)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 1 𝑠2 𝑚 1 𝑠2
⇒ [−20 ] [ ∙ ] = [(−9.8 2 ) (𝒕)] [ ∙ ]
𝑠 −9.8 𝑚 𝑠 −9.8 𝑚
−20
⇒ 𝑠 = 𝒕 , 𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑠 𝟐. 𝟎𝟒 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 = 𝒕
−9.8

Page 4 of 6
 SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption
3) Two rocks are held on the same elevation with a robot arm to be released at a predefined
time. One second (1.0 s) after the first rock is released, the second rock is released.
a) Determine the distance travelled by the first rock after 1 second.
b) Determine the time it takes for the two rocks to have a 10-meter separation from the
moment the second rock is released.

GIVEN: Rock 1 Rock 2

𝑣𝑖,𝐴𝐵 = 0 𝑚/𝑠 (downward)
𝑔 = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 vi,AB Point A
FIND:
𝑦 =? 𝒚𝑨 − 𝒚′
𝑡′ =? 𝒚 =?
SOLUTION (a): (From point A to point B)
1
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 since 𝑎 = −𝑔,
𝟏 vf,AB
𝒚 = 𝒗𝒊,𝑨𝑩 𝒕 − 𝒈 𝒕𝟐 Point B
𝟐 𝒕𝑨𝑩 = 𝟏 𝐬
𝑚 1 𝑚
⇒ 𝑦 = (0 𝑠 ) (1 𝑠) − 2 (9.8 𝑠2 ) (1 𝑠)2
1 𝑚
⇒ 𝑦 = − (9.8 2 ) (1 𝑠 2 )
2 𝑠

𝒚′ = −𝟏𝟎 𝒎
𝒚 = −𝟒. 𝟗 𝐦 (downward) 𝒚𝑨

SOLUTION (b): (When rock 2 starts falling)

(The separation distance 𝒚′ is given as
10 meters. Then, the distance travelled by the rock
1 is 𝑦𝐴 . Thus, the distance travelled by rock 2 is
𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦′. ) 𝒕 =? Point C
1
For the distance of rock 1, we will use the kinematic equation 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 . Thus,
we will obtain an equation in terms of time 𝑡.
1 m
Rock 1: 𝑦𝐴 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 since 𝑣𝑖 = 0 s ,
𝟏
𝒚𝑨 = 𝒂𝒕𝟐 Equation 1
𝟐
1
For the distance of rock 2, we will use the same kinematic equation 𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎𝑡 2 .
However, the time for the rock 2 to move downward is delayed by 1 second. So, the time
we will use is now (𝑡 − 1 s). Thus, we will also obtain an equation in terms of time 𝑡.
1 m
Rock 2: (𝑦𝐴 − 𝑦′) = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 2 𝑎(𝑡 − 1)2 since 𝑣𝑖 = 0 s ,
1
(𝑦𝐴 − [−10 m]) = 0 + 𝑎(𝑡 − 1 s)2
2
1
(𝑦𝐴 + 10 m) = 𝑎(𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 s + 1 s 2 )
2
𝟏 1
(𝑦𝐴 + 10 m) = 𝒂𝒕𝟐 − 𝑎𝑡 s + 𝑎 s 2 We notice that equation 1,
𝟐 2 𝟏
1 2 𝒚𝑨 = 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝟐 appears in the
(𝑦𝐴 + 10 m) = 𝒚𝑨 − 𝑎𝑡 s + 𝑎 s
2 expression.
1 2
10 m = −𝑎𝑡 s + 𝑎 s
2
1 2
10 m −𝑎𝑡 s 2 𝑎 s
= +
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
10 m 1 2
= −𝑡 s + s
𝑎 2

Page 5 of 6
 SHS Department, CENTRAL VISAYAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
General Physics 1 (Discussion and Solutions): to be copied by hand by students for better absorption
10 m 1 2
− s = −𝑡 s
𝑎 2
10 m 2
m − 0.5 s = −𝑡 s
−9.8 2
s
10 m 2
1 1
[ m − 0.5 s ] [−s] = [−𝑡 s] [−s]
−9.8 2
s

10 m s 2 1 1
[ ∙ ] [ ] − [0.5 s2 ] [ ] = 𝑡
−9.8 m −s −s
10 s
+ 0.5 s = 𝑡
9.8
𝟏. 𝟓𝟐 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 = 𝒕

Page 6 of 6