Fall Definition and 921 Threads

  1. A

    I'm about to fail Calc 1. Should I give up or retake it this fall?

    After taking an astronomy course in college, I decided I want to major in physics with a concentration in astronomy. My current major has nothing to do with science or mathematics. This summer I took a physics class and I'm currently still taking Calc 1. I got an A in physics, but so far in...
  2. F

    Distance traveled by projectile in Free Fall

    Homework Statement An object falls from rest off a building, with a constant acceleration of 9.8 m/sec^2. The object travels half the building in its last 1 secs of its fall before hitting the ground. What is the height of the building? v_0 = 0 a = 9.8 Homework Equations x = x_0 + v_0 t +...
  3. B

    DTQE idler photons fall into a Black Hole- interference at d0?

    Experiment: Imagine the dalayed time quantum eraser experiment, except the pair of "idler" photons(which would normally pass onto the detectors d1,d2,d3,d4) instead fall into a black hole. Would d0 detect interference or not? It seems commonly accepted that the information of...
  4. kq6up

    Free Fall and Inertial Frames?

    Let me set the stage for a thought experiment. 1. A physicist in an elevator at some arbitrary height above Earth holding an accelerometer oriented in a direction pointing toward the center of the Earth. 2. No atmospheric drag. Drop the elevator car and make a measurement. The...
  5. L

    Schools Graduating in summer or fall, what are my options for grad school?

    I switched majors after my third year to physics. As a result, I have an unordinary schedule. I will be graduating either in summer of 2015 or fall of 2015. I haven't taken the GREs yet, and I am not planning on taking them this coming fall since I am doubling up on physics courses and don't...
  6. L

    Drag Coefficient and Reynolds Number Related to free fall

    Homework Statement Hi, I am doing a theoretical investigation which will be compared to an experimental I'll do later. I am trying to calculate how much time will it take an object to fall a heigh H. the object is a 5x5x5 cm cube. I have the Reynolds number as this Re=3546*Velocity; and I...
  7. R

    Calculating Marble's Fall from a Table Height

    Homework Statement A marble is accelerated to a horizontal velocity of 0.50 m/s by rolling it down a small ramp. The marble rolls off the table, which is 0.78 m high. As it falls, it hits a barrier on the way down. If the barrier is 0.15 m from the edge of the table, at what height from the...
  8. STEMucator

    Solving a Coconut's Fall: Speed, Work, & Air Resistance

    Homework Statement A coconut, with ##m = 2.30 kg##, falls from rest from a tree which is ##h = 35.0 m## high. Take ##g = 9.78 m/s^2##. 1. What speed does the coconut hit the ground? Ignore air resistance. 2. If it actually hits the ground with a speed of ##23.9 m/s##, how much work was...
  9. A

    Theoretical description about free fall and acceleration

    Hey everyone... I have a question about free fall and acceleration. I recently had a question on an exam that went something like this. "A ball is thrown directly up from a building 59.4 meters high. It barely misses the building on its way down and hits the ground 4 seconds after being...
  10. Adjoint

    Solving Free Fall Problem: Ball Speed & Heights

    [EDITED. Thanks to Doc Al, Tanya Sharma and dauto] Homework Statement A ball is dropped from rest from the top of a building of height h. At the same instant, a second ball is projected vertically upward from ground level, such that it has zero speed when it reaches the top of the building...
  11. Y

    How long would it take for an apple to fall to the earth

    How long would it take for an apple to fall to the Earth if it were as far away as the Moon and how do you calculate that? And, say the apple appeared out of nowhere stationary (relative to the Sun) at that distance, would the movement of the Earth leave the apple behind or would the apple...
  12. F

    Concept of Free Fall in question

    OK so let me apologies if I don't seem to fully understand the concept of free fall and am making a far fetched connection. I've been recently reviewing some of my old course material such as vector calculations, Newtonian mechanics,etc, and while reading up on basic vector calculation the...
  13. S

    Time for object in free fall to reach bottom of reservoir

    I'm sorry I'm sure this question is basic, but hours later I'm still stumped. Any hints appreciated. Also I'm trying to work on thinking about the theory behind the solution, so if anyone can include the physics "why it works" behind their hint that would be greatly appreciated :) Homework...
  14. D

    What happens when you fall at 100 mph into a flat water lake

    I'm just wonder what would happen for a physics project. I have looked everywhere and can't find anything helpful on the internet. Theoretically, I just need to find what would happen to a large humanoid object reaching a terminal velocity of 100-125 mph and falling down around 4km into said...
  15. Nathanael

    Minimum Velocity of an object thrown directly up to never fall down?

    EDIT: This is in the wrong section isn't it? How do I move it to the General Physics section? (My bad.) This isn't a homework problem (I'm not in a physics class) so hopefully this isn't the wrong section. My question is about finding the minimum velocity needed for an object (directly...
  16. A

    A basic question about free fall (concerning Galileo and Aristotle)

    This question is from Resnick, Halliday, Krane; Physics 5th edition. This is not actually a homework problem rather a question and so I hope it's not inappropriate to post it here. If m is a light stone and M is a heavy one, according to Aristotle M should fall fall faster than m. Galileo...
  17. F

    Why does a bike not fall over when it's in motion?

    Hello there, This is my first post on here, so I hope that I've posted in the appropriate sub-forum. My question might seem simple to some, but I haven't been able to find a satisfactory / understandable answer to this question. Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.
  18. I

    Parachutist's fall is because of balanced force or unbalanced force?

    A parachutist's fall is due to gravity of the Earth which pulls down the weight of the parachutist towards it. Initially there is no air resistance. The air resistance increases and acts against gravity. There is a phase the velocity is constant. When parachute opens, air resistance increases...
  19. M

    Calculating Motion Energy: Can a Falling Object Generate 435kW in 2.4 Seconds?

    Hi guys, I have a question that has been intriguing me for some time. If i drop an object 100m at the speed of gravity (9.8), which has a mass of 1000kg - given the initial velocity of zero, i get the following results: velocity = 44.3 m/s Kinetic energy = 980000 Joules If my...
  20. C

    General and/or Specific Advice For a Fall 2014 Freshman

    I'm 19, aspiring to go into professional physics, most probably in the astrophysics branch. I'm mostly attracted to gravity (please do not mind the pun), quantum mechanics, string theory, the remote possibility of FTL travel using Alcubierre Drives (or better technology, someday), fusion, et al...
  21. T

    Why do all objects fall with the same acceleration regardless of mass?

    I am well aware that objects of varying masses, shapes, and surface areas will fall at different speeds and accelerations in an environment with a gas in the way such as air due to air resistance. Why is it though, that gravity causes all objects to fall with the same acceleration in a vacuum...
  22. K

    Finding impact speed of a high altitude free fall

    If we neglect the effects of air resistance, the impact speed of a body of mass m released from rest at an altitude of 2 x 10^8 m above the surface of Earth (mass of Earth = M = 5.99 x 10^24 kg, radius of Earth = 6.37 x 10^6 m) It's a multiple choice and I think I have it, but I just want to...
  23. L

    Classical, electrons fall into nucleus, why not planets into sun?

    How is electromagnetism different from gravity in that accelerated objects radiate EM waves when accelerated in an electric field but no gravitational waves are generated when objects are accelerated in a gravity field? Why do not planets orbiting the sun generate gravitational waves and...
  24. B

    Solving Free Fall Motion Homework: Find Time in Seconds

    Homework Statement If a body travels half its total path in the last 1.70 s of its fall from rest, find the total time of its fall (in seconds). Homework Equations Vf=Vi+at Xf-Xi=Vit+1/2at^2 The Attempt at a Solution Well I can see what's going in in the problem (I think). I know...
  25. K

    Can You Catch a Falling Dollar Bill with Your Reaction Time?

    Homework Statement Your friend makes a wager with you. He holds a $50 bill between your thumb and finger, and says you can keep the $100 bill if you can catch it when it drops. The bill is 16cm long. Using your reaction time do you catch the bill? Homework Equations The Attempt...
  26. S

    Free Fall Question: Find Height from Half-Distance Traveled

    Homework Statement In the final second of its free fall, an object covers half the height of its total fall. From what height did it fall? 2. The attempt at a solution I know that the velocity and acceleration at the final second must be enough for the object to cover half the height...
  27. M

    Does weight affect an object's speed during free fall?

    Hi there Just wondering: all objects fall at the same speed, right(not taking into account air resistance)? So if I dropped a feather and a bowling ball on the moon, they'd fall at the same speed. So far so good. But my physics book's definition of weight is "The weight of an object is the...
  28. R136a1

    Is My Approach to the Spring with 2 Masses in Free Fall Correct?

    Homework Statement The Attempt at a Solution The reference to exercise 1.7 is not essential. The only part exercise 1.7 that is relevant to this exercise is the following: if a long narrow tube is drilled between antipodal points on a sphere of uniform mass density and two identical...
  29. Q

    What happens when you fall in an evaporating black hole?

    Here's the best of my understanding of the official explanation of what happens when O' fall in a black hole. eternal black hole For an outside observer O, O' slow down more and more as you approach the event horizon, at the event horizon time seems to completely stop. In the reference frame...
  30. M

    Where did the water balloon fall?

    Homework Statement A boy is on top of a 12 m tall building. He throws a water balloon horizontally, releasing it at a height of 1 m above the top of the building. The water balloon is thrown at 30 mi/h and is aimed at the balconies of an apartment building across the street, 18 m away...
  31. L

    Question regarding calculating the time it takes for an object to fall

    Homework Statement Given data: Tom throws a stone from a cliff 20m above the water, the initial velocity is 9m/s. Calculate the time it takes for the rock to fall down. Homework Equations Now, to my questions. I solved this using the equation: y = - 1/2 gt^2 But, I found myself...
  32. E

    Calculating Terminal Velocity with Air Resistance: A Case Study in Free Fall

    My textbook source is: Fundamentals of Physics, 6th edition, by Halliday, Resnick, Walker According to Newton's well known 2nd Law of Motion: Fnet = ma In chapter 2, in the case of free fall, the Fgrav = mg, where g = -9.8 m/s2, assuming that movement along the axis of y is positive...
  33. KiNGGeexD

    Solving the Yoyo Problem: Velocity After Fall of h

    Yoyo Problem:( Question: A cylindrical yoyo of mass m and radius R falls a height h from rest. What is its velocity after this fall? My attempt: I drew a diagram and at rest determined that T-mg=ma Where T is tension and acceleration is centripetal acceleration v^2/r So v= sqrt of T-gR...
  34. K

    Time for an object to fall to a larger one

    I know that for short distances from the Earth's surface, x=-1/2gt^2+vt+x works fine for finding the time it takes for an object to fall a certain distance ignoring air resistance. However, what if the distance is many times the Earth's radius? The only thing I can think of to start solving...
  35. G

    Free Fall of Objects Considering the Acelleration of the Planet

    Dear members, My name is Gilberto F. A. and I would like to ask your help regarding a topic in Gravitation. I have formal education in engineering and recently, as part of an attempt to refresh my knowledge of physics I started to study again on my spare time whenever I can. A few days ago...
  36. F

    How is - (gravitational) potential energy and free fall compatible?

    I was having a few problems with Negative gravitational potential energy, I wasn't able to put my finger on why because it worked so well with everything else I had learned. I tried to say it made sense because in space you don't free fall, but that's not actually true, though the...
  37. T

    Calculating Free Fall Motion: A Practice Problem with Step-by-Step Solution

    Homework Statement The original question is: A ball is shot horizontally off the edge of a cliff 35 m high. The ball lands 20 m from the base of the cliff. a. How long was the ball in the air? b. What was the initial velocity of the ball? Homework Equations I believe these would be helpful...
  38. Buckethead

    GR Effects on Satellites in Free Fall: Resolving the Confusion

    Two very simple questions, but ironically I've listened to a number of podcasts and articles that leave me confused as they don't always sound consistent so... 1. Is a satellite that orbits a planet (i.e. a satellite in free fall) feel the GR effects of the gravity of the planet? In other...
  39. H

    A lamp hanging on from the ceiling, Im scared is going to fall on me

    hello, I am new to this forum (so bear with me) I've got a lamp on the ceiling of my kitchen, its got a particular setup that Ill try to reproduce ceiling--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------hook------------------------hook--------...
  40. S

    Number of elastics needed to safely fall

    Homework Statement Hi, I have this assignment that is killing me trying to figure out. I'm in grade 11 physics. Basically, the teacher will be dropping an object at a certain height (We do not know yet). The object will be attacked to the place where it was dropped with elastic bands. We...
  41. F

    Where Do Balls Collide When Dropped and Thrown Up Simultaneously?

    Homework Statement A ball A is dropped from the top of a building of height h and simultaneously a ball B is thrown upwards and both balls collide. After the collision the ball A has the double the velocity of ball B Determine the fraction of the building where the balls collide...
  42. I

    What impact does air resistance have on a ball thrown upward with speed x?

    if we throw upward a ball with speed x. What can we say about it when the ball returns in the presence of air resistance? What about in the absence?
  43. A

    Free fall, hit the target, projectile problem

    Homework Statement monkey is a building 79.3 meters tall. as he was free falling, he was shot by a suspect with a dart. which suspect hit the monkey? Suspect a - on a building 65.2 tall, 81meters away from monkey (building to building horizontally), at velocity 55, at angle 10...
  44. A

    Free fall, hit the target, projectile problem

    Homework Statement A monkey is free falling at a building at height 79.3 Meters. At the same time a dude shoots a dart from a building 65.2 meters tall, 81.0 meters away from monkey building, 55 m/s speed, angle at 10 degree. Homework Equations two dimension kinematics The Attempt...
  45. P

    3 paper dots fall from a 3-hole punch

    3 paper dots fall from a 3-hole punch. what is the probability they will land forming a perfect equilateral triangle on the floor x-y plane? Assume the dots are point source singularities, real dots take up space. don't grid the floor because that will constrict rotations. I don't think...
  46. G

    How High Was the Tree from Which the Squirrel Fell?

    Free Fall simple question, Answer check ASAP please! Homework Statement A flying squirrel falls from the top of a tree, without initial velocity. It travels the last 2 meters of its fall in 0.2s. What was the height of the tree?Homework Equations d=\upsilon_{i}t + \frac{1}{2}at^{2}...
  47. chaszz

    What causes weightlessness in a free fall?

    Einstein said one his happiest realizations was that a person in free fall would feel no weight. Unless I am mistaken he said this. But didn't Newton realize this?
  48. P

    What Maximum Height Can a Tennis Ball Reach with Reduced Gravity?

    Homework Statement A tennis ball is thrown upward with and reaches height of 18 m. What maximum height can reach this ball on the where acceleration of free fall is 6 times less than g? In both cases initial velocity is same. [sic] (excuse my physics teacher's grammar, don't shoot the...
  49. T

    Why don't objects with greater mass fall faster?

    Galileo found in his experiment that all objects regardless of its mass take same time to fall from above, if the air resistance is effectively overcome. Aren't objects with larger mass supposed to fall quickly, since objects with larger mass attract the Earth more strongly than smaller...
  50. C

    Free fall trajectory in non constant gravitational field

    Rusty on the math... I am working on a problem and need the derivation of a free fall trajectory for an object at a distance above Earth where the change in acceleration is not negligible. How do I integrate the distance/ acceleration formula taking into account the change in g to get the...
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