Question

The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a planet depends on the planet's mass and size; therefore other planets will have accelerations due to gravity different from 9.8 m/s2. Imagine an astronaut stands on an alien planet, which has no atmosphere, and throws a rock with a speed of 6.55 m/s in the horizontal direction, releasing it at a height of 1.40 m above the surface of the planet. The rock hits the surface a horizontal distance of 8.00 m from the astronaut. Find the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity, in m/s2, on this alien planet.1 m/s2

Answer 1

`g = 1.88 m/s^2`

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the rock is projected at speed

v = 6.55 m/s

the horizontal distance traveled by the rock is given as

d = 8 m

time taken by the rock to move this distance is given as

`t = (d)/(v)`

`t = (8)/(6.55)`

`t = 1.22 s`

now in the same time it will drop to the ground

so we have

`y = (1)/(2)gt^2`

`1.40 = (1)/(2)g(1.22^2)`

`g = 1.88 m/s^2`