# Math Help - Y(T) = -(1/2)GT^2 + VoT + Yo?

1. ## Y(T) = -(1/2)GT^2 + VoT + Yo?

A stone is dropped from a height of 64 feet. In how many seconds does it hit the ground? What is the speed at impact?

I don't think you guys can see the formula, but I want to know where did the -32 come from? If its suppose to be cause of -(1/2)64 then why is there still a (1/2) there and why does that (1/2) turn it into a -16?

My just don't understand cause the formula I was told is.

Y(T) = -(1/2)GT^2 + VoT + Yo.

2. its the acceleration due to gravity on Earth in feet per second per second

3. So is gravity always 32?

4. Originally Posted by Brazuca
So is gravity always 32?
It's always $-32 ft/sec^2$. You have to pay attention to the units. If the height is in meters then we would use $-9.8 m/sec^2$ as the acceleration constant. This is all assuming that we are on Earth and that moving downward is negative.

01

Edit: what Random Variable said below is more correct.

5. EDIT: The value DECREASES ever so slightly with altitude, but you generally consider it to be a constant on Earth.

6. Originally Posted by Brazuca

My just don't understand cause the formula I was told is.

Y(T) = -(1/2)GT^2 + VoT + Yo.
You have here the fundamental equation representative of a freely falling object.

Recall that $distance=rate*time$ or $d=rt$. So the acceleraton of a freely falling object (first measured by galileo) is the constant $g=\text{ acceleration due to gravity }\approx{32ft/sec^2}$. The $\frac{1}{2}$ is a factor of $g$ because we must take the average from $t=0$ to $t=n$ because we must interpret as a distance. In your formula, we have to also consider the initial velocity of the object because that will add to the velocity at any time and thereby affect distance traveled. And of course, since we are concerned with distance, we consider the initial height. Note that at $t=0$, the object is still at rest, at it's initial height.

I hope this helps you to conceptualize what is happening here.

7. In fact $g = - G \frac{M}{R^2}$

G is a constant ( Umm i don't know what the value is )
M is the mass of the Earth .
R is the distance from the center of the Earth ( about 6300 km)

Since these values are extremely large or small , g won't be affected if R increases or decrases slightly .

8. Originally Posted by Brazuca
A stone is dropped from a height of 64 feet. In how many seconds does it hit the ground? What is the speed at impact?

I don't think you guys can see the formula, but I want to know where did the -32 come from? If its suppose to be cause of -(1/2)64 then why is there still a (1/2) there and why does that (1/2) turn it into a -16?

My just don't understand cause the formula I was told is.

Y(T) = -(1/2)GT^2 + VoT + Yo.
You might like to suggest to your instructor that they stop teaching mechanics in units other than SI. The retention of US customary units only stores up problems for the future.

CB

CB

9. I agree with Caaptain Black--When I was a student in the early 80's we were convinced our children would only know of feet and inches in ancient literature.

However, I would like to comment on Von Nemo's Post. There is no averaging involved itis a matter of antidifferentiation.