Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 3: Problem 32

You toss an apple horizontally at \(8.7 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) from a height of \(2.6 \mathrm{m}\) Simultaneously, you drop a peach from the same height. How long does each take to reach the ground?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Both the apple and the peach will hit the ground at the same time; approximately 0.73 seconds after being dropped/thrown.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the principle of free fall

Gravity, which is the force that attracts objects towards each other, is primarily what causes objects to fall. Any object that falls under gravity falls at the same rate, regardless of the horizontal velocity. So whether an object is dropped straight from a height or thrown horizontally, it will hit the ground at the same time assuming it starts from the same height and there is no air resistance.
02

Establish the relevant equations

The equation that links the distance travelled under gravity (the height in this case), the gravity and the time is: \(d = \frac{1}{2}gt^2\), where \(d\) is the distance (or height), \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity and \(t\) is the time. We’re solving for \(t\), so after re-arranging, \(t = \sqrt{\frac{2d}{g}}\). In this case, \(d = 2.6 \mathrm{m}\) and \(g\) is roughly \(9.8 \mathrm{m/s^2}\) (depending on your location on earth).
03

Calculate the time it takes for the objects to hit the ground

Using the rearranged equation from Step 2, calculate the time it takes for the apple and the peach to hit the ground. \(t = \sqrt{\frac{2*2.6}{9.8}}\)

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

You're in a bus moving with constant velocity on a level road when you throw a ball straight up. When the ball returns, does it land ahead of you, behind you, or back at your hand? Explain.

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites circle Earth at altitudes of approximately \(20,000 \mathrm{km},\) where the gravitational acceleration has \(5.8 \%\) of its surface value. To the nearest hour, what's the orbital period of the GPS satellites?

You're heading an international effort to save Earth from an asteroid heading toward us at \(15 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). Your team mounts a rocket on the asteroid and fires it for 10 min, after which the asteroid is moving at \(19 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\) at \(28^{\circ}\) to its original path. In a news conference, what do you report for the acceleration imparted to the asteroid?

You're a passenger in a car rounding a curve. The driver claims the car isn't accelerating because the speedometer reading is unchanging. Explain why the driver is wrong.

Two projectiles are launched simultaneously from the same point, with different launch speeds and angles. Show that no combination of speeds and angles will permit them to land simultaneously and at the same point.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Oscillations

Read Explanation

Energy Physics

Read Explanation

Translational Dynamics

Read Explanation

Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Read Explanation

Wave Optics

Read Explanation

Mechanics and Materials

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free