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Practice Problems: Free Fall Solutions

1. A rock is dropped from a garage roof from rest. The roof is 6.0 m from the ground.

a. (easy) Determine how long it takes the rock to hit the ground.

y - yo = vot + ½at2

-6 - 0 = 0 + ½(-9.8)t2

t = 1.1 s

b. (easy) Determine the velocity of the rock as it hits the ground.

v = vo + at

v = 0 + (-9.8)(1.1)

v = -10.8 m/s

c. (moderate) A second rock is projected straight upward from ground level at the moment the first rock

was released. This second rock had an initial upward velocity of +6.0 m/s. How long will this second rock

take to reach maximum height?

v = vo + at

At max height v = 0

0 = 6 + (-9.8)t

t = 0.61 s

d. (hard) At what time after release will the two rock have the same height?

y1 - yo,1 = vo,1t + ½at2 AND y2 - y0,2 = vo,2 t + ½at2

When y1 = y2 ... yo,1 + vo,1t + ½at2 = y0,2 + vo,2 t + ½at2

0 + 0 + (-4.9)t2 = -6 + 6t + (-4.9)t2

6 = 6t

t = 1s

2. (moderate) A projectile is shot upward at 189 m/s from a height of 20 m off the ground. How long will

it take for the projectile to be at ground level?

y - yo = vot + ½at2

0 - 20 = 189t - 4.9t2

4.9t2 - 189t - 20 = 0

Use the quadratic equation:

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11/3/2019 Practice Problems: Free Fall Solutions - physics-prep.com

t = {38.7s, -0.1 s}

The root that makes physical sense is t = 38.7 s

3. (moderate) A hot-air balloon is hovering over a large public park. The operator of the balloon then

makes the balloon begin to rise at a constant rate of 0.8 m/s. At some height from the ground the

operator drops a rock from the basket. The rock take 10.3 seconds to hit a target on the ground. How

high (above the ground) was the rock when it was released and what was its maximum height?

To find initial height:

y - yo = vot + ½at2

0 - yo = 0.8(10.3) - 4.9(10.3)2

yo = 511.60 m

To find max height: v = 0

v2 = vo2 + 2gΔy

0 = (0.8)2 + 19.6(ymax - 511.60)

ymax = 511.63 m (the rock moved 30 cm upward before falling downward)

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