Final answer:
The time it takes for an object to fall from a 144-foot building is calculated using a quadratic equation derived from kinematic equations, resulting in a fall time of 3 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to determine the time it will take for an object to hit the ground when dropped from a 144-foot building. This is a physics problem involving free fall motion which can be solved using the quadratic equation derived from the kinematic equation h = -16t2 + h0, where h is the height from the ground, t is the time in seconds, and h0 is the initial height.
Setting the equation to zero because the object hits the ground when h is 0, we get: 0 = -16t2 + 144. Dividing by -16, the equation simplifies to t2 = 9. Taking the square root of both sides gives us t = 3 seconds. Thus, the object will take 3 seconds to hit the ground.