Question

Ron Burgandy's dog Baxter, is punted horizontally off a bridge by the bad man. Baxter's horizontal

velocity is 20 m/s and the bridge is 20 m off the ground. If he lands safely 25 meters away
(because its a movie and not reality), how long was he in the air?

Answer 1

The actual time it takes to land from a height of 20 m is approximately 2.02 seconds

The time Baxter was in the air in the movie is 1.25 seconds

Step-by-step explanation:

The given parameters are;

Baxter's horizontal velocity = 20 m/s

The height of the bridge off the ground = 20 m

The point where he lands (horizontally) = 25 m away

The time, t, Baxter was in the air is given by the following kinematic equation;

Horizontal velocity = (Horizontal distance)/(Time)

Substituting the known values gives;

20 = 25/t

∴ t = 25/20 = 1.25

The time Baxter was in the air in the movie = t = 1.25 seconds

However from the equation for free fall, we have;

h = 1/2 × g × t²

∴
`t_(Actual)` = √(h/(1/2 × g)) = √(20/(1/2 × 9.81)) ≈ 2.02 seconds

The actual time Baxter would be in the air ≈ 2.02 seconds.