How much time does a passerby on the sidewalk
below have to move out of the way before
the flowerpot hits the ground?
Answer in units of s.
Like this?
http://prntscr.com/8kiqq7
But we need the height of the building, H.
To calculate the time a passerby on the sidewalk below has to move out of the way before the flowerpot hits the ground, we can use the equations of motion. We'll assume there are no external forces acting on the flowerpot.
1. Start by measuring the vertical distance, h, between the flowerpot and the sidewalk below.
2. Next, we need to determine the initial velocity of the flowerpot. If the flowerpot was dropped vertically from rest, the initial velocity would be zero. However, if the flowerpot was thrown downwards or fell from a height, it would have a non-zero initial velocity. Let's assume the initial velocity of the flowerpot is v0.
3. Now, we can use the equation for free-fall motion:
h = v0 * t + (1/2) * g * t^2
Where:
h = vertical distance (height)
v0 = initial velocity
t = time
g = acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2)
4. Rearranging the equation, we get:
t = (-v0 ± sqrt(v0^2 - 2 * g * h)) / g
Since we're interested in the time it takes for the flowerpot to hit the ground, we can use the positive value of t.
5. Once you have measured the vertical distance, h, and know the initial velocity, v0, you can plug in the values into the equation and solve for t. Make sure to use consistent units throughout the calculation.
Note: This calculation assumes no air resistance and that the flowerpot falls freely under the influence of gravity.
By following these steps and obtaining the appropriate measurements, you will be able to determine the time a passerby has to move out of the way before the flowerpot hits the ground.