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mjolnir80
Feb25-08, 06:51 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
the question is like this :you are in a balloon that is rising at a rate of 3.0m/s . you have two rocks. you release one when you are 50m above the ground. 2 seconds later you throw the other rock towards the ground . the two rocks hit the ground at the same time . what was the initial velocity of the second rock (with respect to the ground)


2. Relevant equations
we have to solve it only using the simple motion equations such as:
∆d = Vi t + ½ a t2



3. The attempt at a solution
what i did was to first say that :

t(rock1)=t(rock2)-2s and we also know that the second rock is released when we are 56m above the ground

then i proceeded to calculate the time it takes for the first rock to hit the ground (considering the fact that Vi for the first rock is 0)

then i subtracted 2 from this time and used it to calculate Vi for the second rock
i used ∆d = Vi t + ½ a t2 to calculate both these things

the problem is im not sure im doing this right and i would appreciate it if someone could confirm my method
thanks in advance

Mentz114
Feb25-08, 06:58 PM
that Vi for the first rock is 0
Surely -3 m/s ? The rocks will be moving with the balloon until they are dropped or thrown.

Apart from that your method looks OK.

mjolnir80
Feb25-08, 08:33 PM
Surely -3 m/s ? The rocks will be moving with the balloon until they are dropped or thrown.

Apart from that your method looks OK.

oops i was thinking about a different problem