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 480 feet. Show all steps in your work.

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 480  feet. Show all steps in your work.

undeadknight26 · Answer

I have to solve d = .5gt2

undeadknight26 · Answer

@ganeshie8 @phi @thomaster @radar @dan815 @Loser66 please help!

undeadknight26 · Answer

@michelle_DrNiah @marylou004 @hihi67 @Xmoses1 @Niall

undeadknight26 · Answer

@Luigi0210 please help....

phi · Answer

***
Solve this equation for g, 
***
$$ d = \frac{1}{2}gt^2 $$

what do you get (as a first step) when you multiply both sides by 2 ?

undeadknight26 · Answer

2d = 1gt^2?

phi · Answer

yes.  People don't bother to show 1 * anything because multiplying by 1 doesn't "do" anything:
$$ 2d = g t^2 $$
now divide both sides by t^2

undeadknight26 · Answer

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

phi · Answer

the right side is ok  because t^2/ t^2  is 1  (anything divided by itself is one)
what happened to t^2 on the left side?  It should be there

phi · Answer

in other words, the left side is 2d divided by t^2

phi · Answer

can you write down your equation for g ?

undeadknight26 · Answer

sorry i was afk...i do not undeadstand...is it d = g?

phi · Answer

no.  Dividing in algebra is easy.  you put /t^2 next to 2d
$$ 2d = g t^2 $$
divide both sides by t^2
$$ \frac{2d }{t^2} = \frac{gt^2}{t^2} $$

now simplify (if you can)

undeadknight26 · Answer

You cannot simplify this equation right?  or if you could it would be d/t = g/t

phi · Answer

what about the right side ?
you know that 
$$ \frac{gt^2}{t^2} = g \frac{t^2}{t^2} $$

undeadknight26 · Answer

so d = g t^2/t^2?

phi · Answer

$$ \frac{2d }{t^2} = \frac{gt^2}{t^2} $$
do you see that t^2 does not divide into 2  or d ?  (on the left side)

on the right side, t^2 does not divide into g, but it does divide into t^2

undeadknight26 · Answer

Yes.  So does that mean the 2d/t^2 = gt^2/t^2 is my final answer?

phi · Answer

I think you are missing the point.
1) you are solving for g.  that means g *by itself* on one side of the equation
2) t^2/t^2 simplifies to 1