Free fall problem involving two objects

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Two stones are thrown simultaneously, one from a 110 ft tower at 60 ft/s and the other from the ground at 85 ft/s. The classmate's solution indicates they meet at approximately 4.4 seconds and 19.13 meters above the ground. The original poster believes their solution is valid but acknowledges complications and rounding errors in their calculations. Ultimately, the consensus is that the classmate's solution is correct, highlighting the importance of clarity in physics problem-solving.
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Homework Statement


A stone is thrown vertically into the air from a tower 110 ft. high at the same time that a second stone is thrown upward from the ground. The initial velocity of the first stone is 60 ft/s and that of the second stone 85 ft/s. When and where will the stones be at the same height from the ground?

*note* When I asked my teacher, he said the "thrown vertically" meant that the stone was thrown upward


Homework Equations


Vf = Vi+gt
d=Vit-0.5gt2


The Attempt at a Solution



I have two solutions. One by me and the other from my classmate. According to the teacher, her solution is correct, but I disagree.

*Solution of classmate*

Conversion of units:

110ft = 33.53m
60ft/s = 18.29m/s
85ft/s = 25.91m/s

d1+33.53m=d2
18.29t - 4.9t2 + 33.53 = 25.91t - 4.9t2
33.53 = 25/91t - 18.29t
t = 4.4s
18.29 (4.4) - 4.9 (4.4)2 + 33.53 = 19.13m

*My solution* - I believe that my classmate failed to take into account the first stone being thrown upwards. However, there is also something wrong with my solution.

Conversion of units:

110ft = 33.53m
60ft/s = 18.29m/s
85ft/s = 25.91m/s

18.29 = 9.8t
1.87 = t
18.29(1.87) - 0.5(9.8)(1.87)2 + 33.53 = d of stone 1 at 1.87s from the ground
d = 50.6m

25.91 = 9.8t
2.64 = t
25.91(2.64) - 0.5(9.8)(2.64)2 = d of stone 2 at 2.64s from the ground
d = 34.25

2.64 - 1.87 = 0.77s
9.8(0.77) = V
d = 2.91m
50.6 - 2.91 = 47.69m = d of stone 1 at 2.64s from the ground

47.69 - (7.55t + 0.5(9.8)t2) = 34.25 - (0.5(9.8)t2
13.44 = 7.55t
t = 1.78s
Plugging in t to the formula for t, d = 28.96m
47.69 - 28.96 = 18.73 m
1.78 + 2.64 = 4.42s

Therefore, my answer is 4.42 s at 18.73 m from the ground
 
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The solution of your classmate is correct. Your piecewise solution might be correct, but unnecessarily complicated with a lot of rounding errors. That can be the reason of the different results.

ehild
 
ehild said:
The solution of your classmate is correct. Your piecewise solution might be correct, but unnecessarily complicated with a lot of rounding errors. That can be the reason of the different results.

ehild

I see. Thank you very much :)
 
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