A kid falls off the top bunk of a bed, how long till he wakes up?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a scenario where a child falls from a top bunk bed that is 2 meters high, prompting questions about the time it takes to reach the ground. The subject area primarily involves kinematics and the physics of free fall.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between distance, acceleration due to gravity, and time in the context of an object in free fall. There are attempts to identify relevant equations and clarify the variables involved, such as initial velocity and acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on relevant equations and concepts, such as the conservation of energy and kinematic equations. Multiple interpretations of how to approach the problem are being explored, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on using the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²) and the initial conditions of the fall. Participants express uncertainty about the application of equations and the steps needed to solve the problem.

ADH
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2 kids have a sleepover, one kid falls out of the top bunk. The bunk is 2 meters high. How long till wakes up?

I was told "This is fancy way of asking how long it will take an object dropped from two meters with zero initial velocity will take to reach the floor."

Thank you.
 
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ADH said:
I was told "This is fancy way of asking how long it will take an object dropped from two meters with zero initial velocity will take to reach the floor."


Yes it is, so what equation do you know involves these terms? (Remember, acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s2)
 
Well I know the distance = 2 m. The acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2. So we have to find when he hits the ground. I'm not sure how to do this. That's why I posted it.
Thank you.
 
the accln may defined as the change (final - initial, i.e the change here) in velocity devided by the time. construct the eqn. and put initial velocity as zero, get an eqn with time, t and final velocity, v, as two unknown quantities. now get another eqn. equating the initial energy of the boy, potential energy here, and final energy( kinetic energy). it follows from conservation of energy concept. thus u can get an eqn with only one unknown, v. the rest is easy.
 
ADH said:
Well I know the distance = 2 m. The acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2. So we have to find when he hits the ground. I'm not sure how to do this. That's why I posted it.
Thank you.

your relevant equation should be s=ut+1/2at2 where u = initial velocity.
 

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