Calculate the time required for a 2,500 kg lifeboat to reach the water if released from a ship with 9.2-meter freeboard. The lifeboat is leveled with the freeboard. Assume free fall motion and use g = 9.8 m/s^2

1 answer

To calculate the time required for the lifeboat to reach the water, we can use the formula for free fall motion:

h = 1/2 * g * t^2

Where:
h = vertical distance traveled (9.2 meters in this case)
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2)
t = time

We can rearrange the equation to solve for t:

t = sqrt(2h/g)

Substituting the given values:

t = sqrt(2 * 9.2 / 9.8)
t = sqrt(1.8776)
t ≈ 1.37 seconds

Therefore, it will take approximately 1.37 seconds for the 2,500 kg lifeboat to reach the water if released from a ship with a 9.2-meter freeboard.