Question

A plane flying at a speed of 59.1 m/s is dropping a package 521 m above the intended target. How long does it take for the package to hit the ground?

A.) 10.3 seconds
B.) 0.1 seconds
C.) 106.3 seconds
D.) 8.8 seconds

Answer 1

t = 10.31 seconds which agrees with answer option A)

Step-by-step explanation:

Notice that the horizontal velocity of the plane imparted to the package, doesn't affect the vertical motion for which the original (vertical velocity) is zero.

Then the equation for the distance travelled by the package is:

d = (1/2) a t^2

in our case, d = 521 m, and a = g (acceleration of gravity 9.8 m/s^2)

then we can solve for t in the equation:

521 = 9.8/2 t^2

t^2 = 521/4.9

t^2 = 106.32 s^2

t = 10.31 seconds