Free fall acceleration of a bolt

[suxatphysix]

Homework Statement

A bolt is dropped from a bridge under construction, falling 98 m to the valley below the bridge.

(a) In how much time does it pass through the last 30% of its fall?


(b) What is its speed when it begins that last 30% of its fall?


(c) What is its speed when it reaches the valley beneath the bridge?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Tried splitting the problem into 2 parts by multiplying 98 x .3 to solve for the final velocity for the first 70% of the fall, then using that velocity as the initial velocity for the 30% of the fall and the other 30%(29.4m) of the trip.

\Deltat=-vi +/- \sqrt{vi^{2}+2ay} / a

 

[learningphysics]

Homework Statement

A bolt is dropped from a bridge under construction, falling 98 m to the valley below the bridge.

(a) In how much time does it pass through the last 30% of its fall?


(b) What is its speed when it begins that last 30% of its fall?


(c) What is its speed when it reaches the valley beneath the bridge?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Tried splitting the problem into 2 parts by multiplying 98 x .3 to solve for the final velocity for the first 70% of the fall, then using that velocity as the initial velocity for the 30% of the fall and the other 30%(29.4m) of the trip.

That's a good approach. What answers did you get?

 

[suxatphysix]

got 8.20 for part a seconds but it was wrong. so i stopped at part a

 

[learningphysics]

got 8.20 for part a seconds but it was wrong. so i stopped at part a

Can you show what you did to get that?

 

[suxatphysix]

vf^{2}=0 + 2(-9.8m/s^2)(-68.6m)
vf= 36.69m/s

\Deltat = -36.69m/s +/-\sqrt{36.69m/s^2 + 2(-9.8m/s^2)(-29.4) } /-9.81

=8.20s

 

[learningphysics]

vf^{2}=0 + 2(-9.8m/s^2)(-68.6m)
vf= 36.69m/s

\Deltat = -36.69m/s +/-\sqrt{36.69m/s^2 + 2(-9.8m/s^2)(-29.4) } /-9.81

=8.20s

Everything looks right except, your denominator in your quadratic solution... I think it should be 9.81, not -9.81... so you'll chose the positive numerator instead of the negative one...

 

[suxatphysix]

why 9.81 when gravity is always negative?that means the time would actually be 0.723? i don't know if that sounds logical

 

[learningphysics]

why 9.81 when gravity is always negative?

Can you write out the quadratic equation you had?

 

[suxatphysix]

\Deltat=-vi +/- \sqrt{vi^{2}+2ay} / a

 

[learningphysics]

Ah... I think I see now.

vf=0 + 2(-9.8m/s^2)(-68.6m)
vf= 36.69m/s

Here you should have taken vf as -36.69m/s, not +36.69m/s. ie the negative square root is what you want.

 

[learningphysics]

\Deltat=-vi +/- \sqrt{vi^{2}+2ay} / a

Yes, that equation is correct.

 

[suxatphysix]

omg it was right! thanks!

now to try and answer part b and c.

 

[learningphysics]

omg it was right! thanks!

now to try and answer part b and c.

cool! another way to solve that problem that I just saw... you can get the total time of the drop. and subtract the time of the first 70%

So solving (1/2)gt^2 = 98, gives t = 4.4699s. And the solve the time for the first 70%. (1/2)gt^2 = 0.7*98, gives t = 3.7397s, so the difference is the time you need 0.730s.

 

[suxatphysix]

i got both b and c.

b - 36.69
c - 43.85


thanks learningphysics for getting me started on that problem.
Much appreciation.

 

[learningphysics]

i got both b and c.

b - 36.69
c - 43.85


thanks learningphysics for getting me started on that problem.
Much appreciation.

cool! no prob. good job!