Quick question about instantaneous velocity and acceleration

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The discussion focuses on solving a physics problem involving instantaneous velocity and acceleration. The user is struggling with part c of their homework, specifically on which values to use for acceleration when applying the quadratic formula. They initially assumed both initial velocity and acceleration were zero, leading to incorrect results. Another participant points out that the acceleration is not constant in this scenario, which complicates the use of the standard one-dimensional equations. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the conditions of the problem when applying physics concepts.
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Homework Statement


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Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution



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Hey, I did part a and b. Although I need a little help with part c.
I know you're supposed to solve for t^2 but I don't know what value to use for acceleration.
I'd use the quadratic formula to solve for t^2, but I'm just not sure which values to use...
At first I thought the initial velocity would be zero and the acceleration would be zero but then that left me with:

-1/2 * (4.8 m/s^2) = 0 which doesn't lead to the right answer. Could you guys point me in the right direction?
 
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I ended up just differentiating then doing 0.36T^2 - 4.8T = 0 ---> (0.36T^2) / (0.36T) = (4.8t)/ (0.36T) which gave the right answer, but I wanted to know if there was a way to use the quadratic formula and the above equation since that's how the example in the book was done. I guess at this point its kind of an algebra question than a physics question.
 
You can't use the one dimensional equation you have given in the first post as in this case the acceleration is not constant.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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