A raindrop falls from a cloud at an altitude of 10,000 ft. Another raindrop falls from a cloud at an altitude of 14,400 ft.

Question

Write the two height functions and use a graphing calculator to compare

their graphs. Then, Use the graphs to tell when each raindrop reaches the ground.

Answer 1

Assuming initial velocity is zero,

h1 = -16*t^2 + 10000 and h2 = -16*t^2 + 14400

they hit the ground at t = sqrt( 10000/16)=25 and t = sqrt( 14400/16)=30