Suppose you are an intrepid interplanetary explorer and you've landed on the remote planet, Gorzag. Your task is to determine the free-fall acceleration on the surface of Gorzag, which has no atmosphere. All you have is a space rock, a stop watch, and a laser range finder (a tool to measure distance). You find a nearby cliff and make the following measurements: the height of the cliff is 55m, and when you drop the rock off the cliff it takes 40s for the rock to hit the ground below. Show your work.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Topic Video
Question
100%

Suppose you are an intrepid interplanetary explorer and you've landed on the remote planet, Gorzag. Your task is to determine the free-fall acceleration on the surface of Gorzag, which has no atmosphere. All you have is a space rock, a stop watch, and a laser range finder (a tool to measure distance). You find a nearby cliff and make the following measurements: the height of the cliff is 55m, and when you drop the rock off the cliff it takes 40s for the rock to hit the ground below. Show your work. 

Expert Solution
Step 1

Given data:

Distance s = 55 m

Time t= 40 s

Initial velocity of Rock u = 0 m/s

 

Concept and formula:

When Rock is in a free fall, we can use the kinematic equation

s= ut+12at2

to calculate the acceleration of the planet Gorzag.

here, u is initial velocity, a is the acceleration due to gravity, and s is distance.

 

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Projectile motion
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781305952300
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics (14th Edition)
University Physics (14th Edition)
Physics
ISBN:
9780133969290
Author:
Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman
Publisher:
PEARSON
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Physics
ISBN:
9781107189638
Author:
Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:
9781337553278
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:
9780321820464
Author:
Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina Brissenden
Publisher:
Addison-Wesley
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
Physics
ISBN:
9780134609034
Author:
Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart Field
Publisher:
PEARSON