Problem Solving with g= 9.8 m/s2

Question

What is the velocity of a dropped object after it has fallen for 3.0s?

Answer 1

Consider acceleration a, and velocity as two different, related functions of time t.

Gravitational acceleration is given as a constant g = 9.8 m/s² in the downward direction, so:

a(t) =- 9.8 m/s²

Velocity as a function of time measured in seconds due to gravitational acceleration is v(t) = a(t)*t + initial velocity v(0). In this problem, v(0) = 0, so:

v(t) = -9.8t m/s

v(3) = -29.4 m/s.