Equations of Kinematics, including gravity

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a hot-air balloon rising at a constant speed and the subsequent drop of a compass, raising questions about the time it takes for the compass to hit the ground. The subject area pertains to kinematics, particularly the effects of gravity on falling objects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss breaking the problem into manageable parts, questioning the initial conditions such as position and velocity. There is an emphasis on identifying relevant kinematic equations and understanding the role of acceleration due to gravity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants offering guidance on how to approach the problem by considering the components of motion and the necessary equations. There is a focus on clarifying the initial parameters and the use of integration in the context of kinematics.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the original poster's lack of prior physics experience, which may influence their understanding of the problem setup and the equations involved.

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Homework Statement


A hot-air balloon is rising upward with a constant speed of 2.20 m/s. When the balloon is 3.30 m above the ground, the balloonist accidentally drops a compass over the side of the balloon. How much time elapses before the compass hits the ground?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I just started taking Physics 1111 at college and never having taken physics in high school, I have no idea where to start. I assume you would use the knowledge that an object falls towards Earth at 9.8 m/s^2... I just don't even know what equation of kinematics to plug this information into? Thank you for your help!
 
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Runner1598 said:

Homework Statement


A hot-air balloon is rising upward with a constant speed of 2.20 m/s. When the balloon is 3.30 m above the ground, the balloonist accidentally drops a compass over the side of the balloon. How much time elapses before the compass hits the ground?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I just started taking Physics 1111 at college and never having taken physics in high school, I have no idea where to start. I assume you would use the knowledge that an object falls towards Earth at 9.8 m/s^2... I just don't even know what equation of kinematics to plug this information into? Thank you for your help!
You can start by writing the eqs. of kinematics in section 2 of the template. There are only a handful.

You want an equation which relates distance, time, and acceleration.
 
Starting out, you will do yourself a favor by breaking the problem into parts that are easier to visualize and solve. In this case, what is a good first part of the path of the compass?
 
What is the initial position?
What is the initial velocity?
What is the constant acceleration?

Remember that velocity can be described by:
##\int_{t_0}^t a(s) ds +v(t_0)= v(t)##
and position can be described by:
##\int_{t_0}^t v(r) dr +p(t_0)= p(t)##.

Is simple integration part of your toolkit? What are the equations of kinematics?
 

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