An object is thrown vertically from a height of 12 m at 1 m/s. How long will it take for the object to hit the ground?

2 Answers

time t=1.67028567" "seconds

Explanation:

y=v_yt+1/2*g*t^2

-12=1*t+1/2*-9.8*t^2

-24=2t-9.8t^2

9.8t^2-2t-24=0

4.9t^2-t-12=0

t=(-(-1)+-sqrt((-1)^2-4(4.9)(-12)))/(2*(4.9))

t=(+1+-sqrt(1-4(4.9)(-12)))/(2*(4.9))

t=1.67028567" "seconds

God bless...I hope the explanation is useful.

Apr 30, 2016

2 seconds

Explanation:

Assuming that the object is thrown upwards and then falls down, we can use one of the kinematic equations to solve for the time it takes for the object to hit the ground.

For the given problem, we will let positive values represent a downward direction.

Deltad=12m

v_i=-1m/s

a=9.81m/s^2

Deltat=?

Use the kinematic equation, Deltad=v_iDeltat+1/2aDeltat^2, to solve for Deltat.

Deltad=v_iDeltat+1/2aDeltat^2

0=1/2aDeltat^2+v_iDeltat-Deltad

Plug in the values.

0=color(darkorange)(1/2(9.81m/s^2))Deltat^2+(color(teal)(-1m/s))Deltat color(violet)(-12m)

Use the quadratic formula to solve for Deltat.

x=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)

x=(-(color(teal)(-1m/s))+-sqrt((color(teal)(-1m/s))^2-4(color(darkorange)(1/2(9.81m/s^2))(color(violet)(-12m)))))/(2(color(darkorange)(1/2(9.81m/s^2))))

x=1.67scolor(white)(i),color(white)(i)color(red)cancelcolor(black)(-1.47s)

Since we are looking for the time it takes for the object to hit the ground after it is thrown, we take the positive value, 1.67s, ignore -1.47s.

By rounding 1.67s to 1 significant digit, it becomes 2s, which is the time it takes for the object to hit the ground.