A photographer in a helicopter ascending vertically at a constant rate of 1.2m/s accidentally drops a camera out of the window when the helicopter is 46m above the ground. How long will it take the camera to reach the ground

1 answer

Hi = 46
Vi = 1.2

a = g = -9.81 m/s^2

h = Hi + Vi t - 4.9 t^2

0 = 46 + 1.2 t - 4.9 t^2

t^2 - .245 t - 9.39 = 0

t = [ .245 +/- sqrt ( .06 + 37.6) ]/2

t = [ .245 + 6.13 ] /2 forget negative time

t = 3.2 seconds