If a bullet was fired straight up at a speed of 30 m/s what would be the total time for it to return to its starting point?

See previous post.

To determine the total time for the bullet to return to its starting point after being fired straight up at a speed of 30 m/s, we need to consider the motion of the bullet and the effects of gravity.

First, we need to find the time it takes for the bullet to reach its maximum height. When the bullet is fired straight up, its initial velocity (v₀) is 30 m/s, and its final velocity (v) at the highest point will be 0 m/s since gravity slows it down and brings it to a stop before pulling it back down.

We can use the equation for vertical motion:
v = v₀ - gt
Where:
v = final velocity (0 m/s)
v₀ = initial velocity (30 m/s)
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
t = time

Rearranging the equation to solve for t:
0 = 30 - 9.8t
9.8t = 30
t = 30 / 9.8
t ≈ 3.06 seconds

So, it takes approximately 3.06 seconds for the bullet to reach its maximum height.

Now, to find the total time for the bullet to return to its starting point, we need to consider the time it takes for the bullet to descend from its highest point to the ground. The time it takes to descend is the same as the time it took to ascend since the effects of gravity are symmetrical.

Therefore, the total time for the bullet to return to its starting point would be approximately 3.06 seconds × 2 = 6.12 seconds.

Thus, it would take around 6.12 seconds for the bullet to return to its starting point.