A spy in a speed boat is being chased down a river by government officials in a faster craft. Just as the officials' boat pulls up next to the spy's boat, both reach the edge of a 4.2 m waterfall. If the spy's speed is 20 m/s and the officials' speed is 24 m/s, how far apart will the two vessels be when they land below the waterfall?

Answer 1

h = Vo*t + 0.5g*t^2 = 4.2 m.
20t + 4.9t^2 = 4.2
4.9t^2 + 20t - 4.2 = 0
Use Quad. formula.
t1 = 0.200 s. = The spy's time.

24t + 4.9t^2 -4.2 = 0
4.9t^2 + 24t - 4.2 = 0
t2 = 0.169 s. = Gov. officials' time.

t1-t2 = 0.200 - 0.169 = 0.031 s. apart.

Answer 2

Correction: See recent post: Tue, 9-12-14, 11:13 AM.