Question

The distance traveled by a falling object is given by the formula d = 0.5gt2 where d = distance, g = the force of gravity, and t = time. Solve this equation for g, and use your formula to determine the force of gravity if a baseball takes 10 seconds to hit the ground after being dropped from a height of 490 feet. Show all steps in your work.

Answer 1

d = 0.5gt^2
2d = gt^2
g = 2d/t^2

when t = 10 s, and d = 490 feet,
g = 2(490)/10^2 = 980/100 = 9.8 feet/s

Answer 2

First we write down variable values given in the text:

d=490 feet
t=10 seconds

solved for g our equation looks like:
g=2d/(t^2)

Now we replace values of variables and make calculation:

g = 2*490/100 = 9,8 feet/s^2

answer is 9,8 feet/s^2