Free fall model (vacuum)

mathematical model for the fall of objects, neglecting aerodynamic drag and assuming a uniform gravitational field

Description

A free fall is any motion of a body where gravity is the only force acting upon it. Hence, we are neglecting the aerodynamic drag (vanishing drag coefficient and/or density of air) and assuming a uniform gravitational field.

Contained entities

free fall initial condition	$\begin{matrix} x (t = 0) & = & x_{0} \\ v (t = 0) & = & v_{0} \end{matrix}$	initial condition
	$t$ represents time
	$v$ represents free fall velocity
	$v_{0}$ represents free fall initial velocity
	$x$ represents free fall height
	$x_{0}$ represents free fall initial height

free fall solution (vacuum)	$\begin{matrix} x (t) & = & x_{0} + v_{0} t - \frac{1}{2} g t^{2} \\ v (t) & = & v_{0} - g t \end{matrix}$	analytical solution
	$x_{0}$ represents free fall initial height
	$v_{0}$ represents free fall initial velocity
	$t$ represents time
	$g$ represents gravitational acceleration
	$x$ represents free fall height
	$v$ represents free fall velocity

free fall equation (vacuum)	$\begin{matrix} \dot{x} & = & v \\ \dot{v} & = & - g \end{matrix}$	governing equation
	$g$ represents gravitational acceleration
	$t$ represents time
	$v$ represents free fall velocity
	$x$ represents free fall height

Computational tasks

free fall determine time, free fall determine velocity, free fall determine gravitation

Assumptions

vanishing air density, vanishing drag coefficient

References

From Moon-fall to motions under inverse square laws
Radial Motion of Two Mutually Attracting Particles

Further links

Item	Property
free fall	specialized by
free fall model (air drag)	specialized by
free fall solution (vacuum)	solution to
gravitational effects on fruit	modelled by

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