Question

A 20-pound object is dropped from a 50-foot bridge onto the ground below it. A 50-pound object is dropped from a 100-foot cliff onto the ground below it. Which object will hit the ground first? Support your answer with details.

Answer 1

here 20 lb object will hit the ground first

Step-by-step explanation:

Acceleration of the object while it is dropped in air is given as

`F = mg`

`a = (F)/(m)`

`a = g`

so acceleration of the object is independent of the mass of the object

now time to reach the ground is given as

`h = (1)/(2)gt^2`

`t = \sqrt{(2h)/(g)}`

for 20 pound object

`t_1 = \sqrt{(2(50))/(32)}`

`t_1 = 1.77 s`

for 50 pound object

`t_2 = \sqrt{(2(100))/(32)}`

`t_2 = 2.5 s`