Final answer:
Using the free-fall motion formula, the package dropped from a helicopter at 50 meters would take approximately 3.19 seconds to reach the ground, with the closest answer choice being 4 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the time it takes for a package dropped from a helicopter to reach the ground, considering the helicopter is traveling horizontally. To find the time, we can use the equation of motion for free fall, which is d = 0.5 * g * t^2, where d is the distance, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s^2), and t is the time in seconds. With the given height of 50 meters, the equation becomes 50 = 0.5 * 9.81 * t^2. Solving for t yields an answer of approximately 3.19 seconds. However, this time is not one of the provided options, indicating there may be a possible error with the question or the answer choices. Nonetheless, the closest approximate answer from the provided options is 4 seconds (option b).