Final answer:
The distance an object falls varies directly with the square of the length of time it falls. Using the formula d = kv^2 and the given information, we can calculate the distance the object falls in 8 seconds to be 1024 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distance an object falls varies directly with the square of the length of time it falls. This can be represented by the equation d = kv^2, where d is the distance and v is the time. We can solve for the constant of proportionality, k, using the given information.
If the object falls 144 feet in 3 seconds, we can plug in these values into the equation: 144 = k(3^2). Solving for k, we get k = 16. Plugging in the new value of k, we can find the distance the object falls in 8 seconds: d = 16(8^2) = 1024 feet. Therefore, the object falls 1024 feet in 8 seconds.