Watermelon and Superman experiment

AI Thread Summary
To solve the problem of how fast the watermelon is going when it passes Superman, first determine the watermelon’s velocity using the equation Vf = Vi + at. Next, calculate the time it takes for the watermelon to fall 320 meters, considering gravitational acceleration. Set the displacement equations for both Superman and the watermelon equal to each other to find the point at which they pass. This involves using Superman's constant speed and the watermelon's falling motion. Ultimately, the solution requires equating their displacements to find the velocity of the watermelon at the moment it passes Superman.
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Homework Statement


As a science project, you drop a watermelon off the top of the Empire State Building, 320 m above the sidewalk. It so happens that Superman flies by at the instant you release the watermelon. Superman is headed straight down with a speed of 32.0.

How fast is the watermelon going when it passes Superman?

Homework Equations


Vf=Vi+at
X=Vit+(1/2)at^2

The Attempt at a Solution



I guess you have to figure the velocity of the watermelon first correct? But I'm not certain how to do that. And, once I figure out the watermelon's velocity how do I determine when it passes superman?
 
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You are going to want to find out how far above the sidewalk Superman is when the Watermelon passes him.

To do this set the equation that shows Superman's displacement (x=vt) equal to the equation for the watermelon's displacement (X=Vit+(1/2)at^2). You can do this because the displacement for both Superman and the watermelon will be equal when they are passing.
 
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