Question

An aircraft is traveling horizontally in an easterly direction at a height of 400 m above level ground and at a speed of 120 m/s. when it is directly above the observer, M, it releases a package. In relation to origin O and to x and y directions of east and up respectively, the package has acceleration (-4i -4 j)m/s^2
a) P is the position of the package at time t. Find an expression for the vector MP
b) Find how far from the observer the package lands

Answer 1

u = x (east) velocity = 120 - 4 t
w = z (up)velocity = -4 t

x = 0 + 120 t - 2 t^2
y = 400 + 0 - 2 t^2

when y = 0 the thing lands
t^2 = 200
t = 14.1 s
x = 120(14.1) - 2(14.1)^2
x = 1294