Understanding the Physics
* Free Fall: The quarter is in free fall, meaning the only force acting on it is gravity.
* Acceleration due to Gravity: The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means the quarter's velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second every second.
Formula
The formula for calculating the final velocity (v) of an object in free fall is:
v = u + at
Where:
* v = final velocity
* u = initial velocity (0 m/s since the quarter is dropped, not thrown)
* a = acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
* t = time (10 seconds)
Calculation
1. Substitute the values:
v = 0 + (9.8 m/s²) * (10 s)
2. Calculate:
v = 98 m/s
Answer: The velocity of the quarter after 10 seconds is approximately 98 meters per second.
Important Note: This calculation assumes no air resistance. In reality, air resistance would slow the quarter down, so the actual velocity would be slightly less.
