A package is dropped from a helicopter flying at a height of 7.5 m while traveling 15 m/s. How far does the package travel horizontally before it hits the ground below?
To find out how far the package travels horizontally before hitting the ground, we can use the formula for horizontal distance traveled, which is:
distance = speed * time
First, we need to find the time it takes for the package to hit the ground. We can use the kinematic equation for vertical motion:
h = (1/2) * g * t^2
Where h is the initial height (7.5 m), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and t is time.
Rearranging the equation to solve for time, we get:
7.5 = (1/2) * 9.8 * t^2
t^2 = 15 / 9.8
t = sqrt(1.53) = 1.24 s
Now, we can use this time to find the horizontal distance traveled by the package:
distance = 15 * 1.24 = 18.6 m
Therefore, the package travels 18.6 meters horizontally before hitting the ground below.