Question

When a sandbag is dropped from a balloon hovering 1.3 m above the ground, it hist the ground at 5.0 ms⁻¹. On another occasion, the sandbag is released from the balloon which is rising at 7.0 ms⁻¹ when 1.3 m above the ground. There is also a horizontal cross wind of 5.0 ms⁻¹.

At what speed does the sandbag hit the ground?

Answer 1

The speed at which the sandbag hits the ground is 12.0 ms⁻¹. The vertical velocity of the sandbag is 7.0 ms⁻¹ (the speed of the balloon) plus the 5.0 ms⁻¹ of the cross wind, for a total of 12.0 ms⁻¹.