UNIT OVERVIEW

This unit covers vertical projectile motion — the motion of objects moving up or down under the influence of gravity alone. You will apply the equations of motion from Grade 11 to objects that are dropped, thrown upward, or thrown downward.

What You Will Learn

• How gravity causes constant acceleration for all falling objects
• How to choose and apply a sign convention consistently
• How to use the equations of motion for vertical projectile problems
• How to interpret and sketch position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs
• The symmetry of upward projection: what goes up must come down
• How to measure the acceleration due to gravity experimentally
• How to solve multi-stage projectile problems

Why This Matters

Understanding vertical motion helps explain everyday experiences:

• A cricket ball rising after a big hit, pausing at the top, then falling
• Safety calculations for objects dropped from heights on construction sites
• The physics behind bungee jumping and diving

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