SOLUTION: When an object is dropped from a height of 20.0 m above the surface of Planet Z, it will fall 5.00 m during the 2nd second of the fall. What is the acceleration near the surface o

Algebra.Com
Question 1087593: When an object is dropped from a height of 20.0 m above the surface of Planet Z, it will fall
5.00 m during the 2nd second of the fall. What is the acceleration near the surface of the
planet?

Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by ikleyn(52777)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Let  "a" be the unknown acceleration under the question, in m/s^2.


Then your equation is

 -  = 5.   (1)


The term   is the distance that freely falling body passes in two seconds.  (Remember the formula S =  from Physics ?)

The term   is the distance that freely falling body passes in the first second.

The difference is what you are given.


From the equation (1) you have 

4a - a = 2*5,   or

3a = 10,   which gives you  a =  =  m/s^2.



The given value of the height 20 m  IS NOT RELEVANT  to the solution.


We can use it only to check whether our body will be still falling during 2 seconds:

 =  =  = 7 m.


Yes, it still be falling.


So, we solved the problem correctly.


Answer.  The acceleration near the surface of the planet is  =  m/s^2.

Solved.


Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Let's look at what happens during the very first second.  
The initial velocity is 0, since it is 'dropped', rather
than thrown down.







Now we look at what happens during the 2nd second.

The final velocity during the first second, which is 'a', will be
the initial velocity during the 2nd second.  We are told that the
distance it falls during the 2nd second is x = -5.00 m (negative
because it's falling downward.  So we substitute that and v0 = a.
The 2nd second lasts for 1 second, so we substitute 1 for the time t: 















So the acceleration of gravity for Planet Z is -3.33

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

When an object is released and falls freely, its height , h metres, above the ground... (answered by Alan3354)
When an object Is released and falls freely, it's height, h metres, above the ground... (answered by Alan3354,jim_thompson5910)
An object is dropped from rest at a height of 118 m. Find the distance it falls during... (answered by ikleyn)
An object is dropped from the top of a tower.The formula s=4.9t∧2 gives the... (answered by mananth)
An object will fall m feet in n seconds where m = 16nsquared. How long will it take for... (answered by checkley71)
An object will fall m feet in n seconds. How long will it take for a quarter to hit the... (answered by Edwin McCravy)
pleaseplease help with this question....i submitted this last night but had a few typos.... (answered by Alan3354)
How far will an object fall in 5 seconds if it is thrown downward at an initial velocity... (answered by ikleyn)
A spaceship hovering over the surface of Mars drops an object from a height of 30 m. how... (answered by ikleyn)