Question

13. If a toy rocket is launched vertically upward from ground level with an initial

velocity of 100 feet per second, then its height h after t seconds is given by the
equation h(t) = - 16+ + 100t (if air resistance is neglected).

Answer 1

Check the picture below.

how long will it take for it to hit the ground, or namely, what is "t" when h(t) is 0.

`~~~~~~\textit{initial velocity in feet} \\\\ h(t) = -16t^2+v_ot+h_o \quad \begin{cases} v_o=\textit{initial velocity}&100\\ \qquad \textit{of the object}\\ h_o=\textit{initial height}&0\\ \qquad \textit{of the object}\\ h=\textit{object's height}&h\\ \qquad \textit{at`

`h(t)=-16t^2+100t+0\implies h(t)=-16t^2+100t\implies \stackrel{h(t)}{0}=-16t^2+100t \\\\\\ 16t^2-100t=0\implies 4t(4t-25)=0\implies \begin{cases} 4t=0\\ t=0\\[-0.5em] \hrulefill\\ 4t-25=0\\ 4t=25\\ t=\cfrac{25}{4}\\[1em] t=6(1)/(4) \end{cases}`

so h(t) is 0, as you saw on the picture, at two instances, once it was on the ground, 0 seconds, or t=0, and then t = 6.25, or 6 seconds and some change later.