A ball is dropped from the top of a 55.0 m high cliff

AI Thread Summary
A ball is dropped from a 55.0 m cliff while a stone is thrown upward at 21.0 m/s, leading to a collision at a certain height. The calculations involve using the equations of motion to determine the distances traveled by both objects until they meet. The time of collision is calculated to be approximately 2.619 seconds, yielding displacements of 33.6109 m for the ball and 21.389 m for the stone. The final answer for the collision height above the base of the cliff is confirmed to be 27 m. The discussion emphasizes the importance of clear calculations and units in solving physics problems.
sunnyday
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Homework Statement


A ball is dropped from the top of a 55.0 m -high cliff. At the same time, a carefully aimed stone is thrown straight up from the bottom of the cliff with a speed of 21.0 m/s . The stone and ball collide part way up.

How far above the base of the cliff does this happen?

Homework Equations


d = vt+1/2at^2
d1 + d2 = 55

The Attempt at a Solution


Ball[/B]
v = 0
d = 1/2*9.8t^2

Stone
v = 21
d = 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 (I made it -9.8 because the stone is going up so it's fighting gravity, I hope I'm right)

Ball + Stone = 55
1/2*9.8t^2 + 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 = 55
21t = 55
t = 2.619

Stone:
21(2.619)-(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 21.389

Ball:
(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 33.6109

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do next.
 
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sunnyday said:

Homework Statement


A ball is dropped from the top of a 55.0 m -high cliff. At the same time, a carefully aimed stone is thrown straight up from the bottom of the cliff with a speed of 21.0 m/s . The stone and ball collide part way up.

How far above the base of the cliff does this happen?

Homework Equations


d = vt+1/2at^2
d1 + d2 = 55

The Attempt at a Solution


Ball[/B]
v = 0
d = 1/2*9.8t^2

Stone
v = 21
d = 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 (I made it -9.8 because the stone is going up so it's fighting gravity, I hope I'm right)

Ball + Stone = 55
1/2*9.8t^2 + 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 = 55
21t = 55
t = 2.619

Stone:
21(2.619)-(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 21.389

Ball:
(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 33.6109

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do next.

What do you mean next? You've got the answer, surely?

Note that you need to add units to your working, e.g. ##t = 2.619s##.

An an aside: the stone starts off at ##21m/s## and the initial distance between the stone and the ball is ##55m##. What do you get if you divide ##55## by ##21##?
 
Stone:
21(2.619)-(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 21.389

Ball:
(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 33.6109

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do next.[/QUOTE]
You have to answer the question: How far above the base of the cliff does this happen?
You got two numbers, explain what they mean. First, add units, as @PeroK said.
Clarify, at what distance from the base of the cliff the ball and stone collide.
 
PeroK said:
What do you mean next? You've got the answer, surely?

Note that you need to add units to your working, e.g. ##t = 2.619s##.

An an aside: the stone starts off at ##21m/s## and the initial distance between the stone and the ball is ##55m##. What do you get if you divide ##55## by ##21##?

When I divided 55/21, I got 2.619 (the same number as I got for seconds). I got 2 answers, the displacement for the ball (33.6109m) and the displacement for the stone (21.389m).
 
sunnyday said:
When I divided 55/21, I got 2.619 (the same number as I got for seconds). I got 2 answers, the displacement for the ball (33.6109m) and the displacement for the stone (21.389m).

How far about the cliff is the collision? Hint: think about the stone.

Is ##55/21 = 2.619## a coincidence?
 
sunnyday said:
I got 2 answers, the displacement for the ball (33.6109m) and the displacement for the stone (21.389m).
Answer the question: How far above the base of the cliff does the collision happen?
 
sunnyday said:

Homework Statement


A ball is dropped from the top of a 55.0 m -high cliff. At the same time, a carefully aimed stone is thrown straight up from the bottom of the cliff with a speed of 21.0 m/s . The stone and ball collide part way up.

How far above the base of the cliff does this happen?

Homework Equations


d = vt+1/2at^2
d1 + d2 = 55

The Attempt at a Solution


Ball[/B]
v = 0
d = 1/2*9.8t^2

Stone
v = 21
d = 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 (I made it -9.8 because the stone is going up so it's fighting gravity, I hope I'm right)

Ball + Stone = 55
1/2*9.8t^2 + 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 = 55
21t = 55
t = 2.619

Stone:
21(2.619)-(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 21.389

Ball:
(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 33.6109

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do next.
btw the answer is 27m
 
sunnyday said:

Homework Statement


A ball is dropped from the top of a 55.0 m -high cliff. At the same time, a carefully aimed stone is thrown straight up from the bottom of the cliff with a speed of 21.0 m/s . The stone and ball collide part way up.

How far above the base of the cliff does this happen?

Homework Equations


d = vt+1/2at^2
d1 + d2 = 55

The Attempt at a Solution


Ball[/B]
v = 0
d = 1/2*9.8t^2

Stone
v = 21
d = 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 (I made it -9.8 because the stone is going up so it's fighting gravity, I hope I'm right)

Ball + Stone = 55
1/2*9.8t^2 + 21t-1/2*9.8t^2 = 55
21t = 55
t = 2.619

Stone:
21(2.619)-(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 21.389

Ball:
(1/2)(9.8)(2.619)^2 = 33.6109

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do next.
btw the answer is 27m
 
hadaidea said:
btw the answer is 27m
That's not what I get. Please post your working.
Btw, the thread is five years old.
 
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