Why Do Objects Fall Slower on the Moon?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a high school student's difficulties with understanding average speed during free fall and projectile motion on the moon. Average velocity for a falling object is clarified as Vave = (V1 + V0)/2, with the specific case of starting from rest resulting in Vave = V1/2. The difference in projectile motion between Earth and the moon is highlighted as primarily due to the moon's lower gravitational acceleration, approximately g/6. The student is encouraged to clarify their expression related to projectile motion, as it seems to represent half the velocity at a given time. Overall, the conversation aims to simplify these physics concepts for better understanding.
UltraPhysical
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I am a high school student who needs help understanding some aspects of Physics. My main areas of deficiency are: Average Speed while falling for time,t: Vave= (1/2)v , and projectile motion on the moon.
(1/2)at
I am really struggling to grasp these concepts so please dumb it down for me.

thank you,

UltraPhysical
 
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Originally posted by UltraPhysical
I am a high school student who needs help understanding some aspects of Physics. My main areas of deficiency are: Average Speed while falling for time,t: Vave= (1/2)v ,

A falling body accelerates at g, so if at time t0 your falling body has veloicity V0 some at later time say t1 it will have a velocity V1. The average velocity will be

V_{ave} = \frac {V_1 + V_0} 2

This is the same average that you should be used to when averaging any set of numbers. Now if you are considering a body which starts at rest V0=0 so the average velocity is simply V1/2 which appears to be the formula you have. A key thing to know is that this only applies to a body which is starting with 0 velocity.

and projectile motion on the moon.
(1/2)at
The only difference between projectile motion on the Earth and the moon is the value of the acceleration due to gravity. That of the moon is usually taken as g/6.

I am not sure what the expression you have written is or what it has to do with projectile motion, it represents half the velocity at some some time t. (Perhaps an average?)
I am really struggling to grasp these concepts so please dumb it down for me.

thank you,

UltraPhysical

That help any?
 
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