Help Finding Average Acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a drop tower operated by NASA, focusing on the concepts of free fall and stopping acceleration. The original poster presents three questions regarding the drop distance, impact speed, and average stopping acceleration of an experimental package dropped from a height.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for drop distance and impact speed, with some expressing uncertainty about how to approach the calculation of average stopping acceleration. There are suggestions to consider the stopping time and references to standard equations of motion (suvat equations).

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants providing guidance on potential approaches and questioning the original poster's understanding of the relevant equations. Multiple interpretations of how to apply the equations are being considered, but no consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates confidence in their calculations for the first two parts of the problem but expresses uncertainty regarding the third part. There is a focus on the need to determine stopping time and the application of energy concepts in the context of the problem.

theintarnets
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Homework Statement


NASA operates a 2.2 second drop tower at the Glenn Research Center in Ohio, where experimental packages are dropped from the top of the tower.
a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?


The Attempt at a Solution


I'm pretty sure I've got a & b correct, but I'm not sure how to go about solving part c. Can someone help me please?

a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
x = 1/2*gt2 = .5*9.81*2.22 = 23.74 m

b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
v = gt = 9.81 * 2.2 = 21.582 m/s

c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?
I think one formula for acceleration is Δv/Δt but I'm not sure how to use that in this case...
 
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theintarnets said:

Homework Statement


NASA operates a 2.2 second drop tower at the Glenn Research Center in Ohio, where experimental packages are dropped from the top of the tower.
a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?


The Attempt at a Solution


I'm pretty sure I've got a & b correct, but I'm not sure how to go about solving part c. Can someone help me please?

a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
x = 1/2*gt2 = .5*9.81*2.22 = 23.74 m

b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
v = gt = 9.81 * 2.2 = 21.582 m/s

c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?
I think one formula for acceleration is Δv/Δt but I'm not sure how to use that in this case...

It's worth trying to commit the suvat equations to memory:
s = length, u = initial speed, v = final speed ... a and t you can probably guess!

v = u + at
s = ut + 0.5 at2
s = 0.5(u+v)t
v2 = u2 + 2as
s = vt - 0.5 at2
 
theintarnets said:

Homework Statement


NASA operates a 2.2 second drop tower at the Glenn Research Center in Ohio, where experimental packages are dropped from the top of the tower.
a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?


The Attempt at a Solution


I'm pretty sure I've got a & b correct, but I'm not sure how to go about solving part c. Can someone help me please?

a) What is the drop distance of a 2.2 s tower?
x = 1/2*gt2 = .5*9.81*2.22 = 23.74 m

b) How fast are the experiments traveling when they hit the airbags at the bottom of the tower?
v = gt = 9.81 * 2.2 = 21.582 m/s

c) If the experimental package comes to rest over a distance of .75 m upon hitting the airbags, what is the average stopping acceleration?
I think one formula for acceleration is Δv/Δt but I'm not sure how to use that in this case...

You need to determine the stopping time.
 
For question (c) its energy problem. Refer to problem(b)
 
sacscale said:
You need to determine the stopping time.

azizlwl said:
For question (c) its energy problem. Refer to problem(b)

The distance, initial and final velocities are known. Does this situation not seem to be simply covered by one of the standard suvat equations?
 
NemoReally said:
The distance, initial and final velocities are known. Does this situation not seem to be simply covered by one of the standard suvat equations?

Indeed, but the OP seemed to have trouble determining which one.
 

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