Final answer:
The correct equation for the vertical position of the penny in free fall as it drops into the well is y = -1.5x + 11, with the negative signs indicating the downward direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for an equation that describes the situation where a penny is dropped straight down into a well. The original position of the penny is 1 1/2 meters above ground, which is -1.5 meters in terms of vertical position (with up being positive and down negative), and the well's bottom is 11 meters below ground. When we deal with free fall, the positive direction is normally taken as upward and the negative direction as downward.
Therefore, the equation we are seeking will describe the vertical position (y) of the penny as it falls from the initial position at the top of the well (-1.5 meters) to the bottom of the well (-11 meters). The correct equation should start with the initial vertical position of the penny and subtract the depth of the well. Thus, the correct equation from the options given is:
y = -1.5x + 11
The other equations either imply an initial position that is higher than the reality (above ground) or position the bottom of the well at a different depth than given.