An object is allowed to fall freely near the surface of an unknown planet. The object falls 80 meters from rest in 5.0 seconds. The acceleration due to gravity on that planet is?
Would the answer be 16?
Half the acceleration is 16. I got 32 m/s^2 for the planet's acceleration.
To find the acceleration due to gravity on the unknown planet, we can use the equation for free fall:
d = (1/2)gt^2
where:
d = distance fallen (80 meters)
g = acceleration due to gravity on the planet (unknown)
t = time taken to fall (5.0 seconds)
Rearranging the equation to solve for g:
g = (2d) / t^2
Substituting the given values:
g = (2 * 80) / (5.0^2)
g = 160 / 25
g = 6.4
Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity on that planet is approximately 6.4 m/s^2.
To find the acceleration due to gravity on an unknown planet, you can use the formula of motion for free-falling objects:
d = (1/2) * g * t^2,
where:
- d is the distance fallen (80 meters),
- g is the acceleration due to gravity,
- t is the time taken to fall (5.0 seconds).
Rearranging the formula, we get:
g = (2 * d) / t^2.
Substituting the given values, we have:
g = (2 * 80) / (5.0)^2 = 160 / 25 = 6.4 m/s^2.
Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity on the unknown planet would be approximately 6.4 m/s^2, not 16.
The equation of kinematics for an object under freefall from rest:
h = v0 t + (1/2)at²
initial velocity, v0 = 0 m/s
acceleration, a m/s/s
height dropped, h m
time to drop, t seconds
Solve for a.