Question

An airplane flies at 40 m/s at an altitude of 50 meters. The pilot drops a heavy package which falls to the ground. Where, approximately, does the package land relative to the plane's new position

Answer 1

128 m

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question given above, the following data were obtained:

Horizontal velocity (u) = 40 m/s

Height (h) = 50 m

Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s²

Horizontal distance (s) =?

Next, we shall determine the time taken for the package to get to the ground.

This can be obtained as follow:

Height (h) = 50 m

Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s²

Time (t) =?

h = ½gt²

50 = ½ × 9.8 × t²

50 = 4.9 × t²

Divide both side by 4.9

t² = 50 / 4.9

t² = 10.2

Take the square root of both side

t = √10.2

t = 3.2 s

Finally, we shall determine where the package lands by calculating the horizontal distance travelled by the package after being dropped from the plane. This can be obtained as follow:

Horizontal velocity (u) = 40 m/s

Time (t) = 3.2 s

Horizontal distance (s) =?

s = ut

s = 40 × 3.2

s = 128 m

Therefore, the package will land at 128 m relative to the plane