How far does a freely falling object travel in its 3rd second?

[wheeljeeper]

Homework Statement

An object is released from a height of 50m. How far has the object traveled during the 3rd second of fall?

Homework Equations

d = Vi*T + 1/2at^2

Doesn't work though - answer provided is 24.5m.

The Attempt at a Solution

I did a simple distance at 3 seconds with 9.81 m/s^2 as acceleration, got 29.43m. Using the formula above I got 44.45m - again, not 24.5m as provided for answer.Thanks a lot!

 

[PhanthomJay]

Homework Statement

An object is released from a height of 50m. How far has the object traveled during the 3rd second of fall?

Homework Equations

d = Vi*T + 1/2at^2

Doesn't work though - answer provided is 24.5m.

The Attempt at a Solution

I did a simple distance at 3 seconds with 9.81 m/s^2 as acceleration, got 29.43m.

you have calculated it's speed after 3 seconds, in m/s, not its distance.

Using the formula above I got 44.45m - again, not 24.5m as provided for answer.


Thanks a lot!

This formula is the correct one to use, but the problem is asking, somewhat vaguely, not for the distance traveled after 3 seconds, but rather, the distance traveled between the 2nd and 3rd second of travel.

 

[wheeljeeper]

Got it.
Yep, wording was the only confusing part. Thanks a lot!