Vertical Motion

Problems
MA.912.A.7.8 Use quadratic
equations to solve real-world
problems.
 Vertical Motion Formula
d=rt – 5t2
• The formula d=rt (Distance = rate X time)
works when the rate is constant.

• When something is thrown upward into the

air, the rate varies.

• The rate gets slower and slower as the object

goes up, then becomes negative as it comes
back down again.
 d=rt – 5t2

• t is the number of seconds since the object

was thrown upward.
• d is its distance in meters above where it was
thrown.
• r is the initial upward velocity in meters per
second. (The rate when the object was first
thrown.)
 d=rt – 5t2

Maximum Height
Object

distance

Ground
 1. A football is kicked into the air with
an initial upward velocity of 25
m/sec.
a. Write the related equation.
d  25t  5t 2

a. Calculate the height after 2 sec & 3 sec

d  25(2)  5(2) 2
d  25(3)  5(3) 2

 50  20  75  45
  30m  30m
 Graph y  25t  5t 2



Clink on link for graphing calculator.

http://my.hrw.com/math06_07/nsmedia/tools/Graph_Calculator/graphCalc.html
1. A football is kicked into the air with an
initial upward velocity of 25 m/sec.
c. When will it be 20 meters above the
ground?

20  25t  5t 2
t  1 sec
5t  25t  20  0
2
or
5(t  5t  4)  0
2

t  4 sec
5(t 1)(t  4)  0
1. A football is kicked into the air with an
initial upward velocity of 25 m/sec.
d. When will the ball hit the ground?

0  25t  5t 2
t  0 sec
5t  25t  0
2
or
5t(t  5)  0
5t  0 or t  5  0 t  5 sec
2. Suppose that you throw a rock into the
air from the top of a cliff. The initial
upward velocity is 15 m/sec.
a. Write the related
equation.

d  15t  5t 2
2. Suppose that you throw a rock into the air
from the top of a cliff. The initial upward
velocity is 15 m/sec.
b. How high will the rock be above the cliff after 2
sec? Where will it be after 4 sec?

d  15(2)  5(2) 2
d  15(4)  5(4) 2

 30  20  60  80
 10 m   20 m
2. Suppose that you throw a rock into the air
from the top of a cliff. The initial upward
velocity is 15 m/sec.
c. When will it again be at the same level you
threw it?
0  15t  5t 2 t  0 sec
5t 15t  0
2
or
5t(t  3)  0
5t  0 or t  3  0
t  3 sec
2. Suppose that you throw a rock into the air
from the top of a cliff. The initial upward
velocity is 15 m/sec.
d. When will it hit the water, 50 meters below
where you threw it?
50  15t  5t 2 t  2 sec
5t 15t  50  0
2
or
5(t  3t 10)  0
2

t  5 sec
5(t  2)(t  5)  0
3. A basketball player shoots a long shot. The
ball has an initial upward velocity of 6 m/sec.
When it is released, the ball is at the same
level as the basket which is 3 meters above
the gym floor.

a. Write the related

equation.
d  6t  5t 2
3. A basketball player shoots a long shot. The ball has
an initial upward velocity of 6 m/sec. When it is
released, the ball is at the same level as the basket
which is 3 meters above the gym floor.
b. After 0.3 seconds, how high is the ball above
the basket? How high above the gym floor.

d  6(0.3)  5(0.3) 1.35  3

2

 1.8  0.45  4.35 m

 1.35 m above basket above floor
3. A basketball player shoots a long shot. The ball has
an initial upward velocity of 6 m/sec. When it is
released, the ball is at the same level as the basket
which is 3 meters above the gym floor.
c. Assuming that the aim is good, when will the
ball go in the basket.

0  6t  5t 2
t  0 sec
5t  6t  0
2
or
t(5t  6)  0 6
t  sec  1.2 sec
t  0 or 5t  6  0 5
3.
d  6t  5t 2

c. At what time does the ball reach its highest

point? How high is the ball above the gym
floor?
t  0 sec or t  1.2 sec
Time Thrown Time when it goes
In the basket.
The ball reaches its highest point halfway between the time
it is thrown and the time it reaches the basket.

t  0.6 sec
3.
d  6t  5t 2

c. At what time does the ball reach its highest

point? How high is the ball above the gym
floor?
The ball reaches its highest point halfway between the time
it is thrown and the time it reaches the basket.

t  0.6 sec The ball reaches

a max imum height
d  6(0.6)  5(0.6) 2

of 4.8 m.
d  3.6 1.8
d  1.8 m