Calculating Building Height: Quick Kinematics Question

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the height of a building based on the motion of a stone dropped from its top, specifically focusing on kinematics and the relationship between distance, time, and speed during free fall.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss formulating equations related to the stone's motion and question the sufficiency of the given information. There are mentions of different methods to approach the problem and the need to express distance as a function of time.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the sufficiency of information and the potential for different solution methods, though no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted concern about the number of unknowns in the problem and the implications of the information provided, particularly regarding the stone's motion in the last second before impact.

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A stone is dropped from the top of a building. Within the second before it hits the ground, it travels 1/5 of the building's height. Calculate the total height of the building.

Been trying to formulate simultaneous equations but there just doesn't seem to be enough information and too many unknowns >< Help appreciated!
 
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What is the speed of the stone just before it hits the ground? You only need one equation.
 
Show what you've done so far. How would you write the distance fallen as a function of time?
 
You don't need more info either as the unknowns will eventually cancel out. There are actually a couple of different ways to solve this.
 
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