How to Calculate Time and Displacement for a Horizontally Thrown Stone?

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To calculate the time it takes for a stone thrown horizontally from a cliff to reach the ground, use the formula t = (2s/g)^(1/2), where s is the height of the cliff and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The horizontal velocity does not affect the time of fall, as vertical and horizontal motions are treated separately. For horizontal displacement, knowing the time of flight and the horizontal speed allows you to calculate the distance using s = vt. The discussion emphasizes understanding kinematic equations and the separation of vertical and horizontal motions. This approach provides a clear method for solving the problem of time and displacement for a horizontally thrown stone.
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Hi i need to know the formula to solve this question

stone is thrown off cliff horizontally at a speed ??m/s from the top of a cliff that's ??m high. How do i find the time it takes for the stone to touch the ground?
 
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the horizontal speed doesn't matter,

t=(2d/g)0.5

t is time
d is distance
g is acceleration due to gravity
 
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Horizontal and vertical velocities and treated separately. So Throwing it horizontally is like dropping it straight down when from a vertical point of view.

s=ut + 1/2 *a*t^2

s-distance it falls (height of cliff)
u-initial velocity = 0 => ut=0
a-gravity (g)

so...t=(2s/g)^(1/2)
 
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock
 
hisoko said:
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock

It is against PF rules to give answers to homework questions. Try googling "kinematic equations" and post back your thoughts on the question, and we will be able to help you further. In future, please use the template with which you were provided:

 
You know the horizontal velocity (which is constant throughout) and you just figured out how long it is going to travel horizontally
 
hisoko said:
okay and to find the displacment? (distance from the base of the cliff to where the stone lands) from knowing only the height of cliff and speed of rock
:bugeye:
Well unless there's some highly unusaul morphology going on, it's pretty safe to say the (vertical) distance between the base of the cliff and where the stone lands would be 0.

I presume you're looking for horizontal distance in which case I'll give you a clue, s=d/t.
 
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