What is the Vertical Separation of Steel Balls in a Steady Fall?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the vertical separation between two steel balls that are falling at a steady rate. The context is rooted in kinematics, specifically focusing on the motion of objects under the influence of gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the timing of the drops and the relationship between the two balls' positions. There is an exploration of how to calculate the time difference between the drops and the implications of the falling rate.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants clarifying their understanding of the timing involved in the drops. Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of the time for the second ball, indicating a productive direction in the conversation.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the balls fall freely and are considering the implications of their steady drop rate of two per second. There is an acknowledgment of the time elapsed since the balls were dropped, which is critical to the problem.

Larrytsai
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Homework Statement


Small Steel balls fall from rest through the opening at A at the steady rate of two per second. Find the vertical separation h of two consecutive balls when the lower one has dropped 3 meters.


Homework Equations


all kinematics equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I found the time it took for 1 ball to reach 3m which was 0.782 seconds, lost from here
 
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Ok, so the lower one was dropped 0.728s ago and is 3m down. Then the upper one was dropped half a second earlier. Where is it?
 
so then, i go 0.782/2 is the time for the second ball?
 
Larrytsai said:
so then, i go 0.782/2 is the time for the second ball?

Nooo! 0.782s-(1/2)s. It was dropped 1/2 second earlier. They are falling at a rate of 2/second. Think about it.
 
ohhh that makes sense, thanx
 

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