Ball falling. In view for .16 seconds. From what height did it fall?

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SUMMARY

The problem involves calculating the height from which a ball falls past a window that is 1.7 meters long and is in view for 0.16 seconds. The equations used include h = 1/2 * g * t^2 for the distance fallen and h + 1.7 = 1/2 * g * (t + 0.16)^2 for the total distance to the bottom of the window. The discussion concludes that while the exact height of the building cannot be determined with the given information, the distance from the roof to the top of the window can be calculated. The gravitational acceleration, g, is assumed to be 9.81 m/s².

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Homework Statement



A ball falls from the top of a building.
It falls past a window. It is in view for .16 seconds.
The window is 1.7 m long.
How high was the building off which it was dropped?

Homework Equations


I'm trying to use
.5 a t^2 + vt + x
but it's not working


The Attempt at a Solution


using that, I got .125, which doesn't make sense.
 
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If the ball takes t s to cross the top of the window, it takes (t + 0.16) s to cross the bottom of the window. If h is the distance of the window from the top of the building, then

h = 1/2*g*t^2 ...(1)

h + 1.7 = 1/2*g*(t + 0.16)^2...(2)

Solve the two equations to find h and t.
 
You really can't tell how tall the building is with the information given. You can, however, tell how far the roof is above the window.
 

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