Key Concepts: Free Fall & Projectile Motion

Free Fall

• Free fall is motion under gravity alone, with no air resistance.
• All objects in free fall accelerate at g ≈ 9.8 m/s² downward, regardless of mass.
• Use kinematic equations with a = −g (taking upward as positive).

Projectile Motion

• A projectile moves in two dimensions: horizontal (constant velocity) and vertical (free fall).
• Horizontal: x = v₀ₓ · t (no acceleration).
• Vertical: y = v₀ᵧ · t − ½gt² (acceleration = −g).
• The path traces a parabola.

Key Formulas

• Range (horizontal distance): R = (v₀² sin 2θ) / g.
• Maximum height: H = (v₀ sin θ)² / (2g).
• Time of flight: T = 2v₀ sin θ / g.
• Maximum range occurs at θ = 45°.