Position, Velocity: Rock Thrown Up & Dropped from 50ft Meet in Air

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To determine when a rock thrown straight up at 25 m/s meets another rock dropped from 50 ft, two position equations are set equal. The equations account for initial height and gravitational acceleration, with the upward rock's position given by y = 25t - 0.5gt^2 and the downward rock's by y = 50 - 0.5gt^2. Setting these equal leads to the equation 50 = 25t, resulting in a meeting time of t = 2 seconds if the upward rock starts from the ground. The height at which they meet is approximately 30.4 meters. Negative time results may indicate an error in sign for acceleration or initial conditions.
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if a person throws a rock strait up with an initial velocity of 25 m/s and a rock is dropped from a height of 50 ft. how do you determine the time at which they will meet in the air?
 
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You find two equations which describe the position of the two rocks as a function of time and then set them equal to one another.

If you have any more questions please post back with whatever work you have attempted so that we have a better idea as to how we can help you.
 
i got x = vi + (at^2)/2 and i plugged in my information and set them equal to each other but time comes out negative :bugeye:
 
Up: y_{2} = y_{1} + v_{1y}t + \frac{1}{2}at^2 v1 = 25, a = -9.8, what's your initial height when you throw it straight up? from the ground?

Drop: y_{2} = y_{1} + v_{1y}t + \frac{1}{2}at^2 v1=0, a=-9.8, y1=50.

You could set the y2's equal to each other.

50 - \frac{1}{2}gt^2 = 25t - \frac{1}{2}gt^2
50 = 25t

So, t=2 if the rock is thrown up from the ground, and if you take t=2 and put it into each, you end up with the same height, 30.4m.
 
u have 4 motion equations to work from.
 
Maybe it came out negative cause you forgot to put a minus sign on the acceleration of the rock going up?
 
Maybe you should show some work instead of being a lazy person and having others do it for you?
 
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