
Your physics teacher takes your class outdoors to a stand of bleachers. You climb to the top and drop a watermelon to the ground below. One of your classmates measures the height of the bleachers to be 5.20 m
 above the ground. How long should it take the watermelon to hit the ground?


We can solve this problem using the equations of motion under constant acceleration, specifically for free fall. Since the only force acting on the watermelon is gravity, we can use the following kinematic equation:

\[
d = \frac{1}{2} g t^2
\]

Where:
- \(d\) is the distance fallen (5.20 m),
- \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\)),
- \(t\) is the time taken to hit the ground.

We want to solve for \(t\), the time it takes for the watermelon to fall.

First, rearrange the equation to solve for \(t\):

\[
t^2 = \frac{2d}{g}
\]

\[
t = \sqrt{\frac{2d}{g}}
\]

Now, substituting the known values:

\[
t = \sqrt{\frac{2(5.20 \, \text{m})}{9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2}}
\]

Let me calculate this for you.The watermelon will take approximately \( 1.03 \, \text{seconds} \) to hit the ground.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions:
1. What is the final velocity of the watermelon when it hits the ground?
2. How would air resistance affect the time taken for the watermelon to fall?
3. What would happen if you dropped the watermelon from a height of 10 meters?
4. How does the mass of the watermelon affect the time it takes to fall?
5. How would the time change if you were on a different planet with a lower gravity?

**Tip:** In free fall, objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass (neglecting air resistance).

Your physics teacher takes your class outdoors to a stand of bleachers. You climb to the top and drop a watermelon to the ground below. One of your classmates measures the height of the bleachers to be 5.20 m above the ground. How long should it take the watermelon to hit the ground?

This problem demonstrates how to calculate the time it takes for a watermelon to fall from a height of 5.20 meters using the kinematic equations of free fall. Learn the step-by-step solution, applying the formula d = (1/2) g t^2, and understand the role of gravity in motion. Suitable for students in Grades 9-11.

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