Question

An airplane is traveling at an altitude of 15,490 meters. A box of supplies is dropped from its cargo hold. What is the cargo's velocity when it hits the ground? (Show your work and do not forget units)

Answer 1

Answer :

556.59 m/s.

Explanation:

Given that,

An airplane is traveling at an altitude of 15,490 meters.

A  box of supplies is dropped from its cargo hold. We need to find the velocity of cargo when it hits the ground.

The initial velocity of the box is 0 as it as at rest. Let v is the velocity of cargo when it hits the ground. We can find it using third equation of motion as follows :

$v^2-u^2=2as$

Put u = 0 and a = g

$v^2=2gs\\\\v=\sqrt{2gs} \\\\v=\sqrt{2\times 10\times 15490 } \\\\v=556.59\ m/s$

So, when it hits the ground its velocity is 556.59 m/s.