Question

A bullet is shot horizontally from the edge of a tall cliff. At the instant the bullet is shot, a rock is dropped from the same height. Neglecting air resistance, which one will hit the ground first

Answer 1

The bullet and the rock will hit the ground at exactly the same time

Step-by-step explanation:

Due to the gravitational forces, defined by Newton's law of gravitation, the acceleration of objects towards the center of the Earth is constant and equal to the acceleration due to gravity, g ≈ 9.8 m/s².

Therefore, given that the initial vertical velocity, u, of the rock and the bullet are both equal to zero, from the following equation of motion, we have;

s = u×t + 1/2·g·t²

t = Time

s = The height from which the bullet is fired and the rock is dropped

s = 0×t + 1/2 × 9.8 × t²

s = 1/2 × 9.8 × t²

t = √(2 × s/9.8)

Therefore, the time to hit the ground is only dependent on the height from which the bullet and the rock were allowed to fall freely.