# Free-Fall Problem

iMAGICIALoTV
A rock dropped from a cliff falls one-third of its total distance to the ground in the last second of its fall. How high is the cliff?

I'm not asking for answer, I know the Physics Forum rules, but I am totally unsure where to start. I guess I have to use the equation d = Vot + at²/2 ?

Could you please give me a hand and help me figure it out, please. Hints is all I need. Thanks.

Draco27
lemme try

you are given initial velocity =0
acceleration is 10/9.8m/s2
let total height be h
and time taken to cover full length be t+1 sec

now find distance traveled is t seconds and then find it for t+1 sec

then u get 2 equations involving time and height

iMAGICIALoTV
Why t+1, though?

Draco27
now distance traveled in last sec is known

so u can take total time as t and 1 sec before time time as t-1

or

u can take total time as t+1 and 1 sec before time as t

Bhumble
Or just solve for V_0 with d = 1/3 h and t = 1 s. Then go back and solve for the time it takes to attain that velocity in free fall.

Homework Helper
h = 1/2*g*t^2 --------(1)
h - h/3 = 1/2*g*(t - 1)^2 -------(2)
Divide 1 by 2 and solve for t. Hence find h.