Question

In an action movie, the villain is rescued from the ocean by grabbing onto a ladder hanging from a helicopter. He is so intent on gripping the ladder that he lets go of his briefcase full of counterfeit money when he is 126.4 m above the water. If the briefcase hits the water 6.0 seconds later, how fast was the helicopter ascending?

Answer 1

If the briefcase hits the water at t = 6.0 s, and the water was 126.4 meters below,

V*t - (1/2)g*t^2 = -126.4 meters
6 V - (4.9)*36 = -126.4

Solve for V, in meters/second

6 V = 50
V = 8.33 m/s