Helicopter acceleration problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a helicopter accelerating upward and firing a flare horizontally. Key points include the need to calculate the helicopter's acceleration, the height from which the flare was fired, and the helicopter's height when the flare reaches the ground. Participants express confusion about how to approach the problem, particularly regarding the calculations for acceleration and the initial vertical velocity of the flare. It is noted that the flare's descent time is equivalent to that of an object simply dropped, emphasizing the importance of understanding projectile motion. The conversation highlights the challenges students face in applying constant acceleration equations to real-world scenarios.
Turntbull
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1. A helicopter starts from rest on the ground and starts accelerating uniformly upward. After 30 seconds a flare was fired horizontally. An observer on the ground measured the time the flare reaches the ground to be 10 seconds calculate A) acceleration of helicopter B) hight flare was fired C) the height of the helicopter the instant the flare reaches the ground assuming the acceleration stays constant 2. Voy = Vo sin theta
The constant acceleration equations
3. I don't know where to start to find acceleration. I have done sin90 to try and get voy but I know that's wrong because my teacher said I'm doing it all wrong lol please help
 
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Hi Turntbull.

Can you find an expression for the time the flare takes to reach the ground after its release?
 
Turntbull said:
1. A helicopter starts from rest on the ground and starts accelerating uniformly upward. After 30 seconds a flare was fired horizontally. An observer on the ground measured the time the flare reaches the ground to be 10 seconds calculate A) acceleration of helicopter B) hight flare was fired C) the height of the helicopter the instant the flare reaches the ground assuming the acceleration stays constant 2. Voy = Vo sin theta
The constant acceleration equations
3. I don't know where to start to find acceleration. I have done sin90 to try and get voy but I know that's wrong because my teacher said I'm doing it all wrong lol please help
Because the flare was fired horizontally, the time involved is the same as if an object was dropped - by dropped I mean held in an outstretched hand and released - it does not necessarily travel down immediately.
 
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