Falling object and distance between time intervals

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 6K views
Jakedidit
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Gravity on a falling object causes the object to descend a distance of d=4.9t^2, where d is the distance in meters and t is the time in seconds. A bowling bll is dropped from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, which is 324 meters in height. If you neglect any type of air resistance, what is the distance (in meters) that the ball falls during the interval between the 8th and 9th second?


Homework Equations


d=4.9t^2 is given;
Gravity acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2


The Attempt at a Solution


Should we calculate the distance the bowling ball will fall in 8 seconds? then 9 seconds? then subtract the two? (Can't fall more than 324 meters)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Calculate how far it has fallen in 8 seconds. Then calculate how far it has fallen in 9 seconds.

If for example in 8 seconds it has fallen 200m and in 9 it has fallen 250m then the distance is 50m.

But if your distance at 9 seconds is over 324m then it will have hit the ball between the 8th and 9th second, so you will just take away the distance at the 8th second from 324.