A stunt double in a movie jumps from a window 50 feet above the ground and lands on an air cushion that is 8 feet high. Write a equation giving the stunt double's height h (in feet) above the ground after t seconds. How long does it take for the stunt double to hit the air cushion?
I have a somewhat idea how to do this, I just don't know how to write it out with variables. Thanks for anyone who can help.
2007-11-29 07:59:42 · 2 answers · asked by ? 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Distance above the ground:
h = 50 - 16.1t^2
Time to hit the cushion:
16.1t^2 = 50 - 8 = 42
t^2 = 42/16.1 ≈ 2.608696
t ≈ 1.615 seconds
2007-11-29 14:18:43 · answer #1 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The equation is h = 50 - ct^2, where c is a well-known constant that I'm currently forgetting (I think it would be 9.8/2 *3.3 or so, but I'm not totally sure I'm currently recalling that the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 meters/second^2.
He hits the cushion when h = 8, which is when ct^2 = 42.
2007-11-29 19:06:30 · answer #2 · answered by Curt Monash 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋