Question

A car drives straight off the edge of a cliff that is 56 m high. The police at the scene of the accident note that the point of impact is 129 m from the base of the cliff. How fast was the car traveling when it went over the cliff?

Answer 1

how long does it take the car to fall 56m?

what velocity does it take to go 129m/that time?

Answer 2

1. 5.714 seconds

2. 50.5mph, 81.27kph, or 22.576mps

Answer 3

1. 5.714 seconds

2. 50.5mph, 81.27kph, or 22.576mps (meters per second)

Answer 4

Wait disregard that - I am such an idiot right now. (I can't erase the former comments)

1. 3.379 seconds

2. 85.549mph, 137.678kmph, or 38.244mps (meters per second)

I was a little braindead before and miscalculated the projection formula by not doubling the gravitational free fall factor with each passing second.

NOTE: this does not count the concepts of mass vs wind resistance - just a simple projection calculation.