Understanding the Concepts
* Freefall: When an object falls solely under the influence of gravity, we call it freefall.
* Acceleration due to Gravity (g): On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s². This means that for every second an object falls, its velocity increases by 9.8 meters per second.
* Initial Velocity (v₀): Since the object starts from rest, its initial velocity is 0 m/s.
* Final Velocity (v): The final velocity we want to achieve is 147 m/s.
The Equation
We can use the following equation of motion to find the time (t):
v = v₀ + at
Where:
* v = final velocity
* v₀ = initial velocity
* a = acceleration due to gravity (g)
* t = time
Calculations
1. Plug in the values:
147 m/s = 0 m/s + (9.8 m/s²) * t
2. Solve for t:
147 m/s = (9.8 m/s²) * t
t = 147 m/s / 9.8 m/s²
t ≈ 15 seconds
Answer: It will take approximately 15 seconds for the object to reach a velocity of 147 m/s in freefall on Earth.
