Understanding the Physics
* Free Fall: The penny is in free fall, meaning the only force acting on it is gravity.
* Acceleration due to Gravity (g): The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the penny's speed increases by 9.8 meters per second every second it falls.
* Initial Velocity: We assume the penny is dropped, so its initial velocity (v₀) is 0 m/s.
Formula
We can use the following kinematic equation to find the final velocity (v):
v = v₀ + at
where:
* v = final velocity
* v₀ = initial velocity
* a = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
* t = time (4.5 seconds)
Calculation
1. Plug in the values:
v = 0 + (9.8 m/s²)(4.5 s)
2. Calculate:
v = 44.1 m/s
Answer
The penny's velocity as it hits the ground would be approximately 44.1 m/s.
