A forensic scientist (CSI) is trying to find a weapon thrown off a bridge into the lake. Assume it is thrown horizontally and it sinks straight down once it hits the water. The bridge height is 15 meters and a normal throwing speed is 23 m/s. How far from the bridge should you search?
so I found t
15m=1/2(9.80)t^2
t=1.75 s
do I just multiply 1.75s x 23m/s
answer: 40.25m?
correct
Yes, you are on the right track. To find the horizontal distance the weapon would have traveled, multiply the time it takes to fall (1.75 seconds) by the throwing speed (23 m/s). So, the search area should be approximately 1.75 seconds multiplied by 23 m/s, which is equal to 40.25 meters. Therefore, you should search approximately 40.25 meters from the bridge.
To determine how far from the bridge you should search, you'll need to find the horizontal distance the weapon traveled during the time it took to fall from the bridge into the water.
First, let's find the time it takes for the weapon to fall from the bridge to the water. You correctly used the equation:
15m = (1/2)(9.8m/s^2)t^2
By solving this equation, you found that t = 1.75s. This is the time it takes for the weapon to reach the water.
Now, to find the horizontal distance covered during that time, you need to multiply the time by the throwing speed. Therefore, you would multiply 1.75s by 23m/s:
1.75s x 23m/s = 40.25m
So, your calculation is correct. The weapon should be searched approximately 40.25 meters from the edge of the bridge.