Utter confusion regarding distance covered during acceleration in free fall.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculations related to distance covered during free fall under constant acceleration due to gravity. Participants explore concepts of average speed, final velocity, and the implications of these calculations when an object falls from rest.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the distance covered in the first second of free fall, suggesting it is 10 meters based on average speed, but questions the validity of this conclusion given the final velocity.
  • Another participant asks about the average speed when starting from rest and reaching a final speed of 10 meters per second under constant acceleration.
  • A later participant presents a new scenario involving a body falling freely for 10 meters from rest and calculates the final velocity as sqrt(200), seeking confirmation of this result.
  • Another response confirms the calculation of final velocity as sqrt(200) and offers alternative expressions for the same value, but expresses uncertainty about the preferred format for answers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple viewpoints regarding the calculations of distance and final velocity, with no consensus reached on the interpretations or correctness of the calculations presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not clarify assumptions about the conditions of free fall, such as air resistance, and the discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps involved in deriving the final velocity from the distance fallen.

AakashPandita
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Let there be an obj. which is made to fall from a certain height in a gravitaitonal field.
where

a= 10 metre per second squared

Say it falls for 1 second.

v(final velocity)= 10 metre per second.

How much distance does it cover in that 1 second?

distance = speed x time = avg. speed x 1second = 10 m

This means that 10 m is covered during that 1 second.

But how could that be when the velocity had not reached 10 metre per second?
 
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If acceleration is constant, and if the starting speed is 0 meters per second and the final speed is 10 meters per second, then what is the average speed?
 
thank you. i understood my mistake.
But now i have another doubt.

A body falls freely for 10 metres from rest.

what is the final velocity?

i found it is sqrt200.
am i right?

i found sqrt200.
am i right?
 
AakashPandita said:
A body falls freely for 10 metres from rest. what is the final velocity? i found it is sqrt200.
Correct. You can also write this as 10 x sqrt(2) or ~14.1421. I'm not sure what form of answer your class would prefer.
 

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