A flower pot is dropped from the balconey of an apartment 28.5 metres above the ground. At a time of 1 second after the pot is dropped a ball is thrown vertically downwards from the balconey one story below 26 metres above the ground. The initial velocity of the ball is 12 metres per second down. Does the ball pass the flowerpot before striking the ground? If so how far above the ground are the two objects when the ball passes the flower pot?

Also please explain step to step how to come to the conclusion of this question

ball in air for time t so pot in air for (t+1)

flower pot
h = 28.5 - 4.9 (t+1)^2

ball
h = 26 - 12 t - 4.9 t^2

when are they at the same h ?
26-12 t -4.9 t^2 = 28.5 - 4.9 (t^2+2t+1)

-2.5 -12 t = -9.8 t -4.9
2.4 = 2.2 t
t = 1.1 seconds for ball in air
and
2.1 seconds for pot in air
now h
h ball = 26 - 12 (1.1) - 4.9 (1.1)^2
= 26 - 13.2 - 5.9
= 6.9 meters from ground so they do pass before hitting ground
check height of pot
h = 28.5 - 4.9 (2.1)^2
=28.5 - 21.6
= 6.9 meters again !! Good

im confused about how u used the difference in time to solve it?

Well, this seems like a tricky situation! Let's break it down step by step:

First, let's find out how long it takes for both objects to reach the ground. We'll start with the flower pot:
Using the equation h = (1/2)gt^2, where h is the height, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2), and t is the time, we can solve for t:
28.5 = (1/2)(9.8)t^2
t^2 = (28.5 * 2) / 9.8
t^2 = 5.8163
t ≈ √5.8163
t ≈ 2.41 seconds

So it takes approximately 2.41 seconds for the flower pot to reach the ground.

Now let's find out at what height above the ground the ball is at 1 second after it's thrown:
Using the equation v = u + gt, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity (-9.8 m/s^2), and t is the time, we can solve for v:
v = 12 + (-9.8)(1)
v ≈ 2.2 m/s

Now, let's find out how long it takes for the ball to reach the ground:
Using the equation h = ut + (1/2)gt^2, we can substitute the values and solve for t:
26 = (12)(t) + (1/2)(-9.8)(t^2)
t^2 - 2.2t - 2.625 ≈ 0
Solving this quadratic equation, we find that t ≈ 3.8 seconds.

Since the ball takes 3.8 seconds to reach the ground, and the flower pot takes 2.41 seconds, the ball will pass the flower pot before striking the ground.

To find out how far above the ground the two objects are when the ball passes the flower pot, we need to find the height of the flower pot at 3.8 seconds. Using the equation h = (1/2)gt^2, we can substitute the values and solve for h:
h = (1/2)(9.8)(2.41)^2
h ≈ 28.5 m

So at the moment the ball passes the flower pot, they are both approximately 28.5 meters above the ground.

I hope that explanation wasn't too "blooming" confusing!

To determine whether the ball passes the flower pot before striking the ground and the height above the ground when it does so, we need to compare the positions of the two objects at any given time.

Let's break down the steps to find the solution:

1. Calculate the time it takes for the flower pot and the ball to reach the ground:
- The distance traveled by the flower pot is 28.5 meters.
- The distance traveled by the ball is 26 meters.
- The acceleration due to gravity is -9.8 m/s^2 (negative because it's acting downwards).
- Use the formula: __distance = (initial velocity × time) + (0.5 × acceleration × time^2)__.
- For the flower pot: 28.5 = 0 + 0.5 × (-9.8) × time^2.
- For the ball: 26 = 12 × time + 0.5 × (-9.8) × time^2.
- Solve both equations to find the time it takes for each object to reach the ground.

2. Determine the heights of the objects at any given time:
- Choose a time interval, such as 0.1 seconds.
- Calculate the heights of the flower pot and ball at that time using:
- For the flower pot: height = 28.5 - 0.5 × 9.8 × time^2.
- For the ball: height = 26 + 12 × time - 0.5 × 9.8 × time^2.
- Repeat this calculation for different time intervals until you find the moment when the ball passes the flower pot.

3. Compare the heights:
- If the ball is higher in height than the flower pot at any given time, it means that the ball passes the flower pot before striking the ground.
- Note the height above the ground when the ball passes the flower pot.

By following these steps, you can find out whether the ball passes the flower pot before striking the ground and determine the height above the ground when they are at the same position.

The reply by Damon is wrong.