Question

Physics students drop a ball from the top of a 50 foot high building and model its height as a function time with the equation h(t) = 50 - 16t^2. Determine, to the nearest tenth of a second, when the ball hits the ground.

Answer 1

The ball has a height of zero when it hits the ground so h(t) = 0, the equation then looks like this

0 = 50 - 16t^2

Then subtract 50 from each side

-50 = - 16t^2

Divide each side by -16

-50/-16 = t^2

Then take the square root of each side to solve for t which is your time

3.125 = t^2

sqrt(3.125) = sqrt(t^2)

1.767766953 = t

Then round to the nearest 10th of a sec to get your answer

t = 1.8