/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 53 In fighting forest fires, airpla... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

In fighting forest fires, airplanes work in support of ground crews by dropping water on the fires. A pilot is practicing by dropping a canister of red dye, hoping to hit a target on the ground below. If the plane is flying in a horizontal path 90.0 \(\mathrm{m}\) above the ground and with a speed of \(64.0 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}(143 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{h}),\) at what horizontal distance from the target should the pilot release the canister? Ignore air resistance.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Release the canister 274.56 m from the target.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

The plane is flying horizontally at a height of 90 m and a speed of 64 m/s. We need to determine the horizontal distance from the target at which the pilot should release the canister so it lands on the target. Ignore air resistance.
02

Calculate Time of Fall

Find the time it takes for the canister to fall 90 meters. Use the formula for the time of fall: \[ t = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{g}} \]where \( h = 90 \) m and \( g = 9.8 \) m/s² (acceleration due to gravity). Substitute the values:\[ t = \sqrt{\frac{2 \times 90}{9.8}} \]
03

Solve for Time of Fall

Calculate the fall time:\[ t = \sqrt{\frac{180}{9.8}} \approx \sqrt{18.367} \approx 4.29 \text{ s}\]The canister will take approximately 4.29 seconds to hit the ground.
04

Calculate Horizontal Distance

Now that we know the time to fall, calculate the horizontal distance traveled by the canister during this time using the formula:\[ d = v \times t \]where \( v = 64 \) m/s and \( t = 4.29 \) s. Substitute the values:\[ d = 64 \times 4.29 \]
05

Solve for Horizontal Distance

Calculate the horizontal distance:\[ d = 64 \times 4.29 \approx 274.56 \text{ m} \]The pilot should release the canister approximately 274.56 meters from the target.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of physics that deals with motion without considering the forces that cause it. Understanding kinematics allows us to predict the future position of an object based on its initial velocity, acceleration, and time of travel. It focuses on several key variables:
  • Displacement: The change in an object's position.
  • Velocity: The speed and direction of an object's motion.
  • Acceleration: The rate at which an object's velocity changes.
  • Time: The duration over which motion occurs.
In the exercise, the airplane is moving in a horizontal direction at a constant speed of 64 m/s. The canister is dropped from a height of 90 meters. Here, knowing how to manipulate the equations of motion can help determine the distance the canister travels. The key to solving problems like this is recognizing that horizontal and vertical motions can be treated independently of each other. Understanding kinematics is crucial to solving projectile motion problems effectively.
Horizontal Distance Calculation
The horizontal distance calculation is crucial in determining where to release the canister to ensure it hits the target. When the canister is released, it carries the velocity of the plane horizontally. Horizontally, the canister will continue its motion with the velocity it had at the release time, which is 64 m/s in this case.

Since the horizontal motion assumes no acceleration (ignoring air resistance), we use the formula:
\[ d = v imes t \]Where:
  • \(d\) is the horizontal distance
  • \(v\) is the velocity of the plane (64 m/s)
  • \(t\) is the time duration the canister is in the air (4.29 s)
The calculation already provided tells us that the horizontal distance is approximately 274.56 meters. This means the pilot should release the canister at this distance from the target to account for the time it takes to fall to the ground.
Free Fall
Free fall describes the motion of an object being acted upon only by the force of gravity. This occurs when objects fall under the influence of gravity alone, without any air resistance. In this scenario, the canister experiences free fall after being released from the plane.

To understand how long it takes to hit the ground, we use the formula for the time of fall:
\[ t = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{g}} \]Where:
  • \(h\) is the height from which the object is dropped (90 m)
  • \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximated as 9.8 m/s²)
In this problem, the calculation of the time of fall reveals that the canister will take approximately 4.29 seconds to reach the ground from a 90-meter height. This time element is essential because it combines with the horizontal velocity to determine where to release the canister, aligning it to hit the target accurately.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

An Errand of Mercy. An airplane is dropping bales of hay to cattle stranded in a blizard on the Great Plains. The pilot releases the bales at 150 \(\mathrm{m}\) above the level ground when the plane is flying at 75 \(\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) in a direction \(55^{\circ}\) above the horizontal. How far in front of the cattle should the pilot release the hay so that the bales land at the point where the cattle are stranded?

Two students are canoeing on a river. While heading upstream, they accidentally drop an empty bottle overboard. They then continue paddling for 60 minutes, reaching a point 2.0 \(\mathrm{km}\) farther upstream. At this point they realize that the bottle is missing and, driven by ecological awareness, they turn around and head downstream. They catch up with and retrieve the bottle (which has been moving along with the current) 5.0 \(\mathrm{km}\) downstream from the turn-around point. (a) Assuming a constant paddling effort throughout, how fast is the river flowing? (b) What would the canoe speed in a still lake be for the same paddling effort?

The nose of an ultralight plane is pointed south, and its airspeed indicator shows 35 \(\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) . The plane is in a \(10-\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) wind blowing toward the southwest relative to the earth. (a) In a vector-addition diagram, show the relationship of \(\vec{\boldsymbol{v}}_{\mathrm{P} / \mathrm{E}}\) (the velocity of the plane relative to the earth to the two given vectors. (b) Letting \(x\) be east and \(y\) be north, find the components of \(\vec{v}_{\mathrm{P} / \mathrm{E}}\) (c) Find the magnitude and direction of \(\vec{\boldsymbol{v}}_{\mathrm{P} / \mathrm{E}}\)

A projectile is thrown from a point \(P .\) It moves in such a way that its distance from \(P\) is always increasing. Find the maximum angle above the horizontal with which the projectile could have been thrown. You can ignore air resistance.

A daring 510 -N swimmer dives off a cliff with a running horizontal leap, as shown in Fig. E3.10. What must her minimum speed be just as she leaves the top of the cliff so that she will miss the ledge at the bottom, which is 1.75 \(\mathrm{m}\) wide and 9.00 \(\mathrm{m}\) below the top of the cliff?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.