Free Fall: Questions & Solution

  • Thread starter Thread starter katia11
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Fall Free fall
Click For Summary
A freely falling object takes 1.50 seconds to travel the last 30.0 meters before hitting the ground. The initial velocity was calculated to be 27.36 m/s just above the last 30 meters. However, there was confusion regarding the signs in the equations used, particularly with the displacement being negative for downward motion. A correction was suggested, indicating that the left-hand side should reflect a downward displacement of -30 m. The final calculated height from which the object fell is 68.15 meters.
katia11
Messages
18
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



45. A freely falling object requires 1.50 s to travel the last 30.0 m before it hits the ground. From what height above the ground did it fall?

Homework Equations



x = xi + Vit + (1/2)at2
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ad

The Attempt at a Solution



First found the initial velocity from 30.0 m left
30m = 0m + Vi (1.5 sec) + (1/2) (-9.81 m/s2) (1.5 sec)2
Vi= 27.36 m/s at 30 m away from ground

Distance from original height to 30 m left
(27.36 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2 (-9.8a m/s2) d
-38.15 m = d

total distance = 68.15 m


I hope this is right! Thank you!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
katia11 said:

Homework Statement



45. A freely falling object requires 1.50 s to travel the last 30.0 m before it hits the ground. From what height above the ground did it fall?

Homework Equations



x = xi + Vit + (1/2)at2
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ad

The Attempt at a Solution



First found the initial velocity from 30.0 m left
30m = 0m + Vi (1.5 sec) + (1/2) (-9.81 m/s2) (1.5 sec)2
Vi= 27.36 m/s at 30 m away from ground

Distance from original height to 30 m left
(27.36 m/s)2 = (0 m/s)2 + 2 (-9.8a m/s2) d
-38.15 m = d

total distance = 68.15 m

I hope this is right! Thank you!

You have the wrong sign for the Vi in the highlighted equation, and the distances should be swapped, but you got the right result.

Otherwise, looks good to me anyway.
 
Yes, I posted this because I was unsure about the signs of the two distances. That makes much more sense.

Thank you very much!
 
katia11 said:

Homework Statement



45. A freely falling object requires 1.50 s to travel the last 30.0 m before it hits the ground. From what height above the ground did it fall?

Homework Equations



x = xi + Vit + (1/2)at2
Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ad

The Attempt at a Solution



First found the initial velocity from 30.0 m left
30m = 0m + Vi (1.5 sec) + (1/2) (-9.81 m/s2) (1.5 sec)2

I don't believe this is right.The left hand side should be -30m since the displacement is downward.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K