Acceleration and Free Fall

What is the direction of acceleration for an object on a tilted track with constant acceleration?

Along the incline, in the same direction as velocity.

How does gravity affect objects in free fall?

It accelerates them downward at 9.8 m/s² on Earth.

What does a position vs. time graph look like for an object with constant acceleration?

A parabola (upward curve).

What is the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth?

9.8 m/s².

Write the kinematics equation for the velocity of an object in free fall.

v_y = v_{y0} - gt.

How do you determine the time to reach maximum height for an object thrown upward?

Set the final velocity to 0 and solve the kinematics equation v_y = v_{y0} - gt for time.

Describe the acceleration of an object at its maximum height when thrown upward.

Acceleration is -g (due to gravity) even when velocity is 0.

What is a vector and what components does it consist of?

A vector consists of magnitude and direction, and can have x, y, (and z) components.

How do you resolve a vector into its components using trigonometry?

Use sine and cosine functions depending on the angle and given vectors.

What does a velocity vs. time graph look like for an object with constant acceleration?

A straight line.

Explain the significance of the negative sign in the acceleration vector for free fall.

It indicates the direction is downward.

How is the final velocity squared equation for free fall expressed?

v_y^2 = v_{y0}^2 - 2g(y - y_0).

In free fall, why is a ball leaving the hand considered to be in free fall?

Because it is under the influence of gravity alone, with no contact forces.

When resolving vectors into components, when should you use sine versus cosine?

Use sine and cosine based on the orientation of the angle with respect to the axis.

What do the signs of component vectors indicate?

They indicate the direction of the vector components in relation to the coordinate axes.