Chapter 8.1, Problem 15P

To determine

To find the distance an object falls in two seconds.

Answer to Problem 15P

The distance is $\text{64 ft}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The given statement is:

“The distance an object falls from rest varies directly as the square of the time it has fallen. If the object fell $\text{4 ft}$ during the first half second, how far did it fall during the next two seconds?”

Calculation :

The distance can be calculated by:

  $\begin{array}{l}\frac{y_1}{x_1{}^2}=\frac{y_2}{x_2{}^2}\\ \frac{4}{{\frac{1}{2}}^2}=\frac{y_2}{2^2}\\ y_2=\frac{4\times 4}{\frac{1}{4}}\\ y_2=4\times 4\times 4\\ y_2=64\end{array}$

Hence, the distance is $\text{64 ft}$ .