acceleration of gravity

Question

A wrench falls out of the gondola of a balloon that is 540 m above the ocean.

Assuming negligible air resistance, what was the wrench’s speed as it hit the water? The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 .

Answer in units of m/s.

Answer 1

Sugg H,

Start by identifying your givens

Given:

Initial Height of the wrench (Reference point of measurement is the water level)

Yo = 540m

Gravity

g = -9.8 m/s^2

Solution:

Y = 0m (Wrench hits the water, our reference point is the water level)

Vo (Assume the wrench is released from rest)

Apply Acceleration as a function of position equation, under constant acceleration

2a(Y-Yo) = V^2 - Vo^2

2 * -9.81 * (0 - (540)) = V^2 - 0

2 * -9.81 * -540 = V^2

10584 = V^2

V = 102.9 m/s (Direction of velocity is downward)