A package is dropped from a helicopter flying at a height of 7.5 m while traveling 15 m/s. How far does the package travel horizontally before it hits the ground below?

Answer 1

To find out how far the package travels horizontally before hitting the ground, we can use the formula for horizontal distance traveled, which is:

distance = speed * time

First, we need to find the time it takes for the package to hit the ground. We can use the kinematic equation for vertical motion:

h = (1/2) * g * t^2

Where h is the initial height (7.5 m), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and t is time.

Rearranging the equation to solve for time, we get:

7.5 = (1/2) * 9.8 * t^2
t^2 = 15 / 9.8
t = sqrt(1.53) = 1.24 s

Now, we can use this time to find the horizontal distance traveled by the package:

distance = 15 * 1.24 = 18.6 m

Therefore, the package travels 18.6 meters horizontally before hitting the ground below.