A 3.60 kg ball is dropped from the roof of a building 184.8 m high. While the ball is falling to earth, a horizontal wind exerts a constant force of 12.1 N on the ball.

Question

How long does it take to hit the ground?
(acceleration of gravity = 9.81 m/s^2)

Answer 1

The horizontal force does not affect the vertical equation of motion. (However, wind force and the object's mass do affect where the ball lands, horizontally). The mass does not affect vertical motion, either. The vertical distance travelled is

Y = (1/2) g t^2

Set Y = 184.8 m and solve for t.