Lesson 3

 UPWARD MOTION
(Acceleration due to gravity)

Motion of a body thrown upward:

It is common knowledge that when an object is thrown upward, it soon

comes down. As it goes up its acceleration decreases
by 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 𝑜𝑟 (32 𝑓𝑡⁄𝑠 2 ). Gravity decreases its speed until it becomes zero.
At this point, it has reached its maximum height and starts to fall. As it falls,
it speed increases uniformly. The velocity when it has reached the same
where it was thrown equals the initial velocity. The time of ascent equals the
time of fall.
𝑚
On the moon, 𝑔 = 1. 60 𝑠2

In this lesson, we will also use the 5 formulas for uniformly accelerated
motion, but the acceleration 𝑎 is changed by 𝑔. We will change also the letter
𝑠 to 𝑦 for the distance which indicates 𝑦 as vertical distance.

In this topic, it’s a combination of upward and downward motion that is why
be careful in identifying the correct sign of the values given. Values can be
either positive or negative.

Note: Before we go to problem solving, 𝑔 here is constant but negative value,

𝑚 𝑓𝑡
use 𝑔 = − 9.8 𝑠2 if the distance is in meter or kilometer and use 𝑔 = − 32 𝑠2
𝑚
if the distance is in feet. On the moon, 𝑔 = −1. 60 𝑠2

Note: Taking up as positive, At the highest point, the velocity will be

zero. If we compute such value positive like velocity it means that it is going
upward but if is negative the object is directed downward.

Example Problems:
1. A ball thrown vertically upward return to its starting point in 4 𝑠. Find
its initial speed?

Note: Fr. beginning to end, displacement is zero

𝑚
Given: 𝑦 = 0, 𝑡 = 4 𝑠 𝑔 = − 9.8 𝑠2
Required: 𝑣𝑖
Solution:
𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑚
0 = 𝑣𝑖 (4 𝑠) + 1⁄2 (− 9.8 2 )(4 𝑠)2
𝑠
78.4 𝑚 = 𝑣𝑖 (4 𝑠)

Module I
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𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 19.6
𝑠

2. A stone is thrown straight upward and it rises to a height of 20 m. With

what speed was it thrown?
𝑚
Given: 𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 = 20 m 𝑔 = − 9.8 𝑠2
Required: 𝑣𝑖
Solution: at the highest point, 𝑣𝑓 = 0

𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦
𝑚
02 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2(− 9.8 2 )20 m
𝑠

𝑚2
392 = 𝑣𝑖 2
𝑠2
𝑚
𝑣𝑖 = 19.80
𝑠

3. A stone is thrown vertically upward w/ velocity 40 𝑚/𝑠 at the edge of

a cliff having a height of 110 𝑚. Neglecting air resistance,
a. compute the time required to strike the ground at the base of
the cliff.
b. With what velocity does it strike?

Note: Choose upward as positive.

𝑚 𝑚
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 40 y = −110m 𝑔 = − 9.8
𝑠 𝑠2

(Note that y is negative since our basis or starting point is at the top of
the cliff which is zero considering the base of the cliff. From the xy
plane, below zero is negative value.)

Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑡 𝑏. ) 𝑣𝑓
Solution:

We can compute first for the velocity,

Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑣𝑓
𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

𝑚 2 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 2 = (40 ) + 2(− 9.8 2 )(−110m)
𝑠 𝑠

Considering the positive and the negative value of velocity

𝑚2
𝑣𝑓 2 = ±3756 2
𝑠
Since it is directed downward, we choose the negative value, hence

𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = −61.29
𝑠

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Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑡 since the computed velocity is negative, we

carry on the sign

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 −61.29 𝑠 − 40 𝑠
𝑡= = 𝑚
𝑔 − 9.8 2
𝑠
𝑡 = 10.34 𝑠

4. A baseball is thrown straight upward on the moon with an initial speed

of 35 𝑚/𝑠. Compute (a) the maximum height reached by the ball, (b)
the time taken to reach that height, (c) its velocity 30 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 after it
is thrown, and (d) the time when the ball’s height is 100 𝑚.
𝑚
(Note: 𝑔 = 1.60 𝑠2 on the moon)

𝑚
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 35 𝑚/𝑠 𝑔 = − 1.60 𝑠2
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑦 𝑏. ) 𝑡 𝑐. ) 𝑣𝑓 𝑑. ) 𝑡
Solution: at the highest point, 𝑣𝑓 = 0
Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑦

𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦

𝑚 𝑚2
𝑣𝑓 2 − 𝑣𝑖 2 02 − 35 𝑠 )2 −1225 2
𝑦= = = 𝑠
2𝑔 𝑚 𝑚
(2)(− 1.60 2 ) −3.2 2
𝑠 𝑠

𝑦 = 382.81 𝑚

Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑡
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡

𝑚
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 0 − 35 𝑠
𝑡= = 𝑚
𝑔 − 1.60 2
𝑠
𝑡 = 21.87 𝑠
Solving for 𝑐. ) 𝑣𝑓
𝑚 𝑚
𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡 = 35 + (− 1.60 2 )(30 𝑠)
𝑠 𝑠
𝑣𝑓 = −13 𝑚/𝑠

Why is it that we have computed the final velocity negative value? The
negative sign means that the ball is directed downward or the ball is
on its way down at 𝑡 = 30 𝑠.

Solving for 𝑑. ) 𝑡
In here, what is the time when will the baseball be in
height 100 𝑚, so there will be 2 answers? Let us see.

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𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2
𝑚 𝑚
100 𝑚 = (35 )𝑡 + 1⁄2 (− 1.60 2 )𝑡 2
𝑠 𝑠

Rearrange to form a quadratic equation

𝑚 2 𝑚
(0.8 ) 𝑡 − (35 ) 𝑡 + 100 𝑚 = 0
𝑠2 𝑠

Using the quadratic formula, we solve t

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑡=
2𝑎

𝑡 = 3.07 s 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = 40.67 s

At 𝑡 = 3.07 s the ball is at 100 𝑚 and is ascending and at 𝑡 = 40.67 s

the shell is at the same height but descending.

5. A baseball is thrown upward w/ a speed of 30 𝑚/𝑠.

a. How long will it rise?
b. How high it rise?
c. How long after it leaves the hand will it return to the starting
point?
d. When will its speed be 16 𝑚/𝑠?
𝑚
Given:∶ 𝑣𝑖 = 30 𝑚/𝑠 𝑔 = − 9.8 𝑠2
Required: 𝑎. ) 𝑡 𝑏. ) 𝑦 𝑐. )𝑡 𝑑. ) 𝑣𝑓
Solution:
Solving for 𝑎. ) 𝑡 at the highest point, 𝑣𝑓 = 0

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 0 − 30
𝑡= = 𝑠
𝑔 𝑚
− 9.8 2
𝑠
𝑡 = 3.06 𝑠

Solving for 𝑏. ) 𝑦

𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑔𝑦
2 𝑚 2 𝑚2
2
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 2 0 − (30 𝑠 ) −900
𝑦= = = 𝑠2
2𝑔 𝑚 𝑚
(2)(− 9.8 2 ) −19.6 2
𝑠 𝑠

𝑦 = 45.92 𝑚

Solving for 𝑐. )𝑡 here we have 2 possible solutions

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Without calculation, since the time of ascent = time of descent we

simply add 𝑡 = 3.06 𝑠 + 3.06 𝑠 = 6.12 𝑠

With calculation, beginning to end, the displacement is zero,

𝑦=0

𝑦 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 1⁄2 𝑔𝑡 2

𝑚 𝑚
0 = (30 )𝑡 + 1⁄2 (− 9.8 2 )𝑡 2
𝑠 𝑠

Rearranging and divide both side by 𝑡

𝑚 𝑚
(4.9 2
) 𝑡 = 30
𝑠 𝑠

𝑡 = 6.12 𝑠

Solving for 𝑑. ) 𝑣𝑓 here we consider the two possibilities of

velocity, remember that speed is the scalar of velocity

Consider 𝑣𝑓 = +16 𝑚/𝑠

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
+ 16 = 30 + (− 9.8 2 )𝑡
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
9.8 2
𝑡 = 30 − 16
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠

𝑡 = 1.43 𝑠

Consider 𝑣𝑓 = −16 𝑚/𝑠

𝑣𝑓 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑔𝑡
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
− 16 = 30 + (− 9.8 2 )𝑡
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
9.8 2
𝑡 = 30 + 16
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠

𝑡 = 4.70 𝑠

Module I
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 MODULE SUMMARY

In module I, you have learned about uniformly accelerated motion. You

have learned the important concepts like velocity, displacement and
acceleration which varies along time.

There are three lessons in module I. Lesson 1 discusses motion along a

straight line. The five formulas for uniformly accelerated motion was
presented.

Lesson 2 deals with the motion on free falling bodies. Free fall
acceleration or what we called acceleration due to gravity was presented.

Lesson 3 is the upward motion. Upward motion is a combination of

objects thrown upward and free fall. Acceleration due to gravity is also
present. Careful assigning of positive and negative values is noted.

Congratulations! You have just studied Module I. now you are ready to
evaluate how much you have benefited from your reading by answering the
summative test. Good Luck!!!

Module I