Question

Concept Simulation 2.3 offers a useful review of the concepts central to this problem. An astronaut on a distant planet wants to determine its acceleration due to gravity. The astronaut throws a rock straight up with a velocity of 17.4 m/s and measures a time of 12.4 s before the rock returns to his hand. What is the acceleration (magnitude and direction) due to gravity on this planet

Answer 1

The acceleration due to gravity on the distant planet is approximately 1.40 m/s² in the opposite direction to the rock's motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the acceleration due to gravity on the distant planet, we can use the equation: vf = vi + at.

Since the rock is thrown straight up, the final velocity (vf) will be 0 m/s when it reaches its highest point. The initial velocity (vi) is 17.4 m/s and the time (t) is 12.4 s. Plugging these values into the equation, we have:

0 = 17.4 + a(12.4)

Solving for a, we get:

a = -1.40 m/s²

The acceleration due to gravity on this planet is approximately 1.40 m/s² in the opposite direction to the rock's motion.