Calculate Total Fall Time with Kinematic Equations | FreeFall Question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the total fall time of a rock thrown horizontally from a cliff at a speed of 15 m/s, which falls half the height of the cliff in the last three seconds. The kinematic equations used include y = -0.5 * g * t^2 + v_0 * t + h_0, where g is approximately 9.8 m/s². Participants emphasize substituting known values into the equations to isolate the unknown height and solve for the fall time. The final solution involves determining the total fall time based on the derived equations and given parameters.

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Homework Statement


A rock is thrown horizontally from a cliff with a speed of 15 m/s. It falls half of the heigh of the cliff in the last three seconds of its fall. What is the total fall time?


Homework Equations



The Kinematic Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Well here's what I have so far but I don't know what its getting me.
Vi=Initial Velocity
Vo=Halfway Down Cliff Velocity
Vf=Final Velocity
Y=Height of cliff
t=time
Vf+29.4=-9.8t
Y=.5(0+Vo)t
Y=.5(Vo+Vf)3
Y=-4.9t^2
Y=Vo(-88.2)

These were all derived from kinematic equations.
 
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I'd (always) work from the general formula,
y = -\frac{1}{2} g t^2 + v_0 t + h_0.

You have one piece of information that you can plug into that formula, to replace the unknown height h_0 of the cliff by the falling time t_f. (You know v_0, but think before you write it down!) Then the remaining formula only contains the constant g \approx 9,8 and the falling time t_f so you can set it to the final height (0) and solve for the latter.
 

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