Calculate Height of Falling Stone: 2.2m Window in 0.28s

  • Thread starter Thread starter jena
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Falling
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving the calculation of the height from which a stone falls, given the time it takes to pass a window of a specific height. The subject area is kinematics, particularly focusing on free fall and motion under gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the original poster's calculation and the method used to derive the answer. Questions are raised about the notation and assumptions made regarding initial and final velocities, as well as the treatment of acceleration.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations of the problem and the calculations involved. Some participants provide alternative approaches and corrections to the original calculations, indicating a productive dialogue without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants question the definitions of variables used in the calculations and the assumptions regarding the direction of acceleration. There is also a mention of potential confusion regarding the values derived for velocities.

jena
Messages
74
Reaction score
0
Hi,
I have a question about height and a falling stone. The question reads:

Question: A stone falling takes 0.28 seconds to travel past a window 2.2 meters tall. From what height above the tope of the window did the stone fall?

Answer: 3.46 meters

Is this the correct answer.

Thank You
 
Physics news on Phys.org
i.e. show your work if you want help.
 
heh, i remember doing that problem out of giancoli years ago.
 
Work

Sorry here's my work.
Work:

t=0
y(i)=0
v=0
V(i)=7.86 m/s
a= -9.8 m/s^2



y= (v^2-V(i)^2)/2a

y=(0-(7.86)^2)/(2*.9.8)

y=3.46 m

Thank You
 
jena said:
Sorry here's my work.
Work:

t=0
y(i)=0
v=0
V(i)=7.86 m/s
a= -9.8 m/s^2

What do you denote by v(i) and how did you derived it? If you mean the speed at the top of the window I assume you found it as:

[tex]v_i = \frac{h - \frac{gt^2}{2}}{t}[/tex],

Its value should be 6.49 m/s instead.

Also do not consider accelearation as negative. It is easier to take the y-axis pointing downward to make all vector quantities positive.


jena said:
y= (v^2-V(i)^2)/2a

y=(0-(7.86)^2)/(2*.9.8)

y=3.46 m

Thank You

Almost there, but you need to arrange a little, as v_i is actually the final velocity for the part of the trajectory from drop point to the top of the window. So,

[tex]h = \frac{v_i^2}{2g}[/tex]

You should get a value of 2.15 m.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, I see where I got confused
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
Replies
3
Views
26K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
9K
Replies
10
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K