How Can Farhana Reach the Truck in Time?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the distance a truck must be from a balcony for a person to land on it after falling. The scenario includes details about the height of the balcony and the speed of the truck, which is traveling at a constant rate. The context is rooted in kinematics and free fall motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the time it takes for Farhana to fall and the time it takes for the truck to reach her balcony. There are attempts to apply kinematic equations to derive time and distance. Some participants express confusion about the calculations and the application of the quadratic formula.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing various approaches to solving the problem. Some have provided calculations and results, while others are questioning the methods used and the assumptions made. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or final answer, but guidance has been offered regarding the use of kinematic equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available or the methods they can use. There are discussions about the accuracy of calculations and the interpretation of the kinematic equations involved.

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Homework Statement



Farhana is late for class and she is ready to do anything to get to school on time. She knows a mattress truck passes her balcony exactly at 8:42 a.m, traveling at a constant 40km/h. If her balcony is 8.21m from the ground and the truck has a height of 3.47. How far must the truck be from the balcony for Farhana to land on it.

Now i know, we have to find Δ d, and v1= 40km/h or 11.1111111111 m/s.

Homework Equations



Δd= v1Δt+ 1/2 aΔt^2

The Attempt at a Solution



Δd= 8.21m- 3.47m
= 4.74m

Δt= Δd/Δv
= 4.74/ 11.111111111
= 0.4266 s

a= -9.8m/s^2

v1= 11.111111111m/s

Now it's asking how far the truck has to be, so it is asking for distance, and distance is speed over time. But i don't know how to find time. i tried but am i doing it right?
 
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So first step for you is to acknowledge that

time for truck to get to the balcony = time that takes her to fall on top of the truck

now for the girl to fall off can be derived by using the "five kinematic equation"
we know the V1 = 0, we know delta d=4.74 we know acceleration is a=-9.8
we can now solve for the time

now once you have the time
you know the equation distance = speed x time
we know the speed of the truck and now we know time
we can therefore get the distance
 
arpeggio said:
So first step for you is to acknowledge that

time for truck to get to the balcony = time that takes her to fall on top of the truck

now for the girl to fall off can be derived by using the "five kinematic equation"
we know the V1 = 0, we know delta d=4.74 we know acceleration is a=-9.8
we can now solve for the time

now once you have the time
you know the equation distance = speed x time
we know the speed of the truck and now we know time
we can therefore get the distance

I tried doing this and still got the wrong answer :S
 
The answer is 11m

and t= 0.569875104 or t= 1.697471834.

if distance = speed * time

and speed is 11.11m/s
dist= 11.11 * 0.569875104
dist= 6.331312405 (6.3m)

and the other one is just wayy off.
 
I got 11 m

did you get time = 0.98 second?

I think you got the quadratic equation wrong

\Delta d = V_{i}\Delta t + ( 1/2)a(\Delta t)^2

\Delta t = \frac{-V_{i} \pm \sqrt{ (V_{i})^2 - 4(1/2)a(-\Delta d)}}{a}
 
did you use v1= 0 or 11.11?
 
tell me if I'm doing anything wrong, \Delta d = V_{i}\Delta t + ( 1/2)a(\Delta t)^2

delta t = -11.11 +- sqrt (11.11)^2 -4(1/2)(-9.8)(-4.74)
---------------------------------------------
-9.8

-11.11+- sqrt 30.5281
----------------------
-9.8-11.11+5.525223977
----------------- = 0.569875104
-9.8-11.11 - 5.525223977
--------------------- = 1.697471834
-9.8

am i right till here?
 
V_{i} = 0
 
arpeggio said:
I got 11 m

did you get time = 0.98 second?

I think you got the quadratic equation wrong

\Delta d = V_{i}\Delta t + ( 1/2)a(\Delta t)^2

\Delta t = \frac{-V_{i} \pm \sqrt{ (V_{i})^2 - 4(1/2)a(-\Delta d)}}{a}

To isolate t to one side



\Delta d = V_{i}\Delta t + ( 1/2)a(\Delta t)^2


0 = V_{i}\Delta t + ( 1/2)a(\Delta t)^2 -\Delta d

from here you use the quadratic equation which would be

if y= ax^2 + bx +c

x= \frac{b \pm \sqrt {b^2 -4ac}}{2a}

in this case
a= (1/2)(9.8)
b= Vi
c= -( delta d)
x = delta t
 
  • #10
OH OK, thank you so much. I finally now get it!
 
  • #11
anytime :) I am glad you got it
 

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