Free fall with + and - Vinitial

In summary, the conversation discusses two objects thrown from a cliff, one with a positive initial velocity (upward) and one with a negative initial velocity (downward). The question is raised whether the object with the positive initial velocity reaches a greater height and therefore has a larger final velocity upon hitting the ground. However, it is pointed out that the initial velocities of the objects should also be taken into account when calculating the final velocity.
  • #1
Gerstemeier
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Two objects thrown from a cliff. One with + vinitial (upward) One with - vinitial (downward). Does the one with + vinitial not reach a greater height and thus have a larger vf upon hitting the ground since it falls farther and therefore is subject to gravity longer?
 
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  • #2
Gerstemeier said:
thus have a larger vf upon hitting the ground since it falls farther and therefore is subject to gravity longer?
Yes. perhaps your argument is correct but check their initial velocities (from which they start falling under gravity) and then calculate Vf... then you may be wrong!
 
  • #3
Gerstemeier said:
Two objects thrown from a cliff. One with + vinitial (upward) One with - vinitial (downward). Does the one with + vinitial not reach a greater height and thus have a larger vf upon hitting the ground since it falls farther and therefore is subject to gravity longer?
If you throw an object upward from the top of the cliff, it will normally come back down again. When it does so and is level with the top of the cliff, what is its velocity then?
 
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1. What is free fall with a positive initial velocity?

Free fall with a positive initial velocity is a type of motion in which an object is dropped or thrown with an initial upward velocity. This means that the object is initially moving in the opposite direction of gravity, but will eventually accelerate towards the ground due to the force of gravity.

2. What is free fall with a negative initial velocity?

Free fall with a negative initial velocity is similar to free fall with a positive initial velocity, except that the object is initially moving downwards. This can occur when an object is dropped from a height or thrown downwards with a velocity. The object will accelerate towards the ground due to the force of gravity.

3. How does the initial velocity affect free fall?

The initial velocity plays a crucial role in free fall. If the initial velocity is positive, the object will initially move upwards before eventually accelerating downwards. If the initial velocity is negative, the object will immediately accelerate downwards towards the ground. In both cases, the initial velocity affects the speed and direction of the object's motion during free fall.

4. What is the acceleration due to gravity in free fall?

The acceleration due to gravity in free fall is constant and is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²) on Earth. This means that in the absence of air resistance, any object in free fall will accelerate at a rate of 9.8 m/s² towards the ground. The acceleration due to gravity can vary slightly depending on the location and altitude, but is typically close to 9.8 m/s².

5. Can an object experience free fall with a constant velocity?

No, an object cannot experience free fall with a constant velocity. This is because free fall is characterized by an acceleration due to gravity, which means the object's velocity will change over time. However, if the initial velocity is equal to the final velocity, the object will reach a state of constant velocity once it has reached the ground. This is known as terminal velocity and is dependent on factors such as air resistance and the shape of the object.

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