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?

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?

drwls · Answer

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