A child drops a coin from the window of a house.it strikes the ground 0,8s later.what is the magnitude and direction of the coin's acceleration? Describe how the velocity of the coin changes as it falls.
To determine the magnitude and direction of the coin's acceleration, and describe how the velocity changes as it falls, we can use the equations of motion.
Step 1: Determine the time of fall
Given that the coin strikes the ground 0.8 seconds later, we can identify the time of fall (t) as 0.8s.
Step 2: Calculate the magnitude of acceleration
The magnitude of acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.
Step 3: Determine the direction of acceleration
Acceleration due to gravity always acts downward. Therefore, the direction of the coin's acceleration is vertically downwards.
Step 4: Describe the change in velocity
As the coin falls, its velocity increases due to the constant acceleration of gravity. Initially, the velocity is zero when the coin is dropped. However, as it falls, the velocity steadily increases in the downward direction. The rate of increase in velocity is constant, as the acceleration due to gravity remains unchanged.
To summarize:
- Magnitude of acceleration (a) = 9.8 m/s^2
- Direction of acceleration (a) = Downward
As the coin falls, its velocity increases in the downward direction.
To determine the magnitude and direction of the coin's acceleration, we first need to understand how the velocity of the coin changes as it falls.
As the coin falls, it experiences a constant acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 directed downward towards the center of the Earth. This acceleration is often denoted as "g."
The direction of the acceleration is always downward, which means it is negative. Thus, the magnitude of the coin's acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2, and its direction is downward.
Regarding the change in velocity, when an object falls freely due to gravity (ignoring air resistance), its velocity increases at a constant rate. This means that the coin's velocity increases by 9.8 m/s every second it falls.
In the given scenario, since the coin strikes the ground 0.8 seconds later, we can calculate the change in velocity. Using the equation for an object's motion under constant acceleration:
v = u + at
Where:
v = final velocity
u = initial velocity
a = acceleration
t = time
Since the coin is dropped from rest (u = 0), the equation simplifies to:
v = at
Plugging in the values:
v = (9.8 m/s^2) * (0.8 s)
v = 7.84 m/s
Thus, the velocity of the coin just before it hits the ground is 7.84 m/s, and it changes in the downward direction due to gravity.