Questions about uniformly accelerated motion under gravity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of uniformly accelerated motion under gravity, particularly focusing on the behavior of a body moving against gravitational force and the point at which it changes direction. Participants explore the mechanics of motion, the role of gravity, and the distinction between uniform and uniformly accelerated motion.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why a body moving against gravity stops at a maximum point where its velocity becomes 0 m/s before returning to the ground.
  • Another participant suggests that understanding Newton's Laws of motion and gravitation is essential for modeling motion under gravity, implying that unbalanced forces like gravity are key to this motion.
  • A different participant explains that during freefall, gravity decreases the vertical component of velocity at a constant rate, leading to a change in direction when the velocity passes through zero.
  • One participant emphasizes that "uniformly accelerated motion" refers to acceleration being uniform, not the motion itself being uniform, clarifying a potential misunderstanding about the terminology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing levels of understanding regarding the mechanics of motion under gravity, with some clarifying concepts while others remain confused. There is no consensus on the initial participant's question about the nature of motion against gravity.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about the definitions of motion and acceleration, and the discussion does not resolve the underlying confusion regarding the transition from upward motion to downward motion.

Vivan Vatsa
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I am not able to understand that why when a body is traveling against the gravity, there will be a point somewhere (which will be known as the maximum point where it will change its path, towards the ground) where the body's velocity become 0 m/s. Then it returns to the ground.
So my doubt is why does a body moving with uniform motion stops at one point, & changes its path towards the ground?
 
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Look up "Newton's Laws of motion" and Newton's Law of Gravitation".
That is all you need to model motion in gravity for most situations you will encounter.
What are you having trouble with? The body is being acted on by an unbalanced force: gravity.
 
When an object is in freefall,
gravity (near the Earth surface) is continually decreasing the vertical component of the velocity vector at the rate of "9.8 m/s per second" (the freefall acceleration).

When the object's vertical component of velocity changes from positive to negative (passing through zero), its vertical motion turns around.
Throughout this motion, the horizontal component of velocity is unchanged--- that is to say, the horizontal motion is uniform.
(The vertical motion [ie. vertical component of velocity] is not uniform... but its "change with time" is uniform ["the vertical component of acceleration is constant"].)
 
Vivan Vatsa said:
I am not able to understand that why when a body is traveling against the gravity, there will be a point somewhere (which will be known as the maximum point where it will change its path, towards the ground) where the body's velocity become 0 m/s. Then it returns to the ground.
So my doubt is why does a body moving with uniform motion stops at one point, & changes its path towards the ground?
"Uniformly accelerated motion" does not mean "uniform motion." The adverb "uniformly" is modifying "accelerated," not "motion."
 

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