How Do You Calculate Time Squared for a Falling Object?

[Kristeng94]

Homework Statement

You will learn a lot about the motion of falling objects in chapter two. At this time you do not have to make any measurements. This exercise is purely numerical. The following table shows the position of a falling apple, in meters, at several instants in time. The clock was started when the apple started to fall and the position is measured vertically downward from the point of release.
Time 0 Distance 0 I need to figure out Time^2 for each one of these.Time is in seconds and distance in meters. thank you.
Time 1 Distance 4.9
Time 2 Distance 19.6
Time 3 Distance 44.1
Time 4 Distance 78.4
Time 5 Distance 122.5

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[ShayanJ]

You should show some attempt!(And in this particular case, I think as soon as you start, you get the answer!)

 

[Kristeng94]

This is the last physics problem I have for homework tonight and have no idea what time ^2 means. Is that speed? I know speed is distance/time.

 

[ShayanJ]

have no idea what time ^2 means

Oh...it just means square the number. If t=a, then t^2=a^2=a*a.

 

[Kristeng94]

But what am I suppose to square? I have nothing in the Time ^2 box...

 

[ehild]

This is the last physics problem I have for homework tonight and have no idea what time ^2 means. Is that speed? I know speed is distance/time.

The apple fall for time t and traveled some distance. t^2 (or t²) is the square of the time. The distances are given, find t² for each of them.
You know the formula for uniformly accelerating motion, how the distance traveled depends on time. What is it?

 

[Kristeng94]

I honestly have no clue, can someone please do the first one besides 0 for me and explain it then I can probably get it.

 

[Kristeng94]

I think I am over thinking this.

 

[ehild]

The time is unknown, but the distance is given. Calculate t² from the appropriate formula. What is it? The falling apple performs uniformly accelerating motion. What did you learn about such motion?

 

[Kristeng94]

This was my second class today, he gave us a packet that included this a diameter verus circumference exercise in it and the rope around the world what can fit under problem.

 

[Kristeng94]

Do I need to figure out velocity?

 

[ShayanJ]

No...you are given a number of (time,distance) pairs. You should calculate time*time for each pair.

 

[Kristeng94]

So the answer for 1.0 would be 1? Then 2 would be 4?

 

[ShayanJ]

Yeah, that's it!

 

[Kristeng94]

You got to be kidding me... that seemed way to easy.

 

[Kristeng94]

It is midnight where I am and have been trying to solve this all day long... Thank you so much.

 

[Kristeng94]

The square is one right?

 

[ShayanJ]

The square is one right?

The square of one is one, right!

 

[Kristeng94]

He deleted his post now I look like an idiot...

 

[ShayanJ]

He deleted his post now I look like an idiot...

No, I saw there was another post. I now realize you were answering to that. You don't look like an idiot.

 

[ehild]

I deleted the previous post as I saw that you solved the problem already. The square of the first time is 1, that is, (T 1)² =1, so T 1 = ?
The square of the second time is (T 2)² = 4, so T 2 = ?

and so on...

Have a good sleep! :)