What is the velocity of an object after 2 seconds of free fall?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the velocity of an object that is dropped from rest after 2 seconds of free fall. This involves applying the principles of physics, specifically the equations of motion under uniform acceleration due to gravity.
Answer
$19.62 \, \text{m/s}$
Answer for screen readers
The final velocity of the object after 2 seconds of free fall is $19.62 , \text{m/s}$.
Steps to Solve
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Identify the known values The object is dropped from rest; hence, its initial velocity $u = 0 , \text{m/s}$. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately $g = 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2$. The time of fall is $t = 2 , \text{s}$.
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Use the equation of motion To find the final velocity $v$ of the object after falling for $t$ seconds, we use the equation: $$ v = u + gt $$ Substituting the known values into the equation gives: $$ v = 0 + (9.81 , \text{m/s}^2)(2 , \text{s}) $$
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Calculate the final velocity Now, compute the final velocity: $$ v = 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 \times 2 , \text{s} = 19.62 , \text{m/s} $$
The final velocity of the object after 2 seconds of free fall is $19.62 , \text{m/s}$.
More Information
The calculated velocity indicates how fast the object is moving after 2 seconds of falling due to Earth's gravity. This value helps understand the effect of gravitational acceleration on freely falling objects.
Tips
- Ignoring air resistance: In most basic physics problems, air resistance is neglected, but in real scenarios, it can affect the fall, especially for lighter objects.
- Using the wrong formula: Make sure to use the correct equations of motion that apply to uniformly accelerated motion.
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