A research drone releases a small sensor package horizontally from a fixed altitude
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A research drone releases a small sensor package horizontally from a fixed altitude. The package leaves the drone with a horizontal speed of 12ms−1 and strikes level ground 25m horizontally from the point on the ground directly beneath the release point.
(a) Derive, in symbolic form, an expression for the height h from which the package was released in terms of the given horizontal distance R, the package’s horizontal speed v0, and the free-fall acceleration g.
(b) Using your expression from part (a), calculate the numerical value of h for the package.
(c) Determine the magnitude of the package’s velocity just before it strikes the ground and the angle it makes with the horizontal at that instant.
(d) Suppose the drone releases a second identical package from the same height but moving horizontally at 6ms−1. Without performing a detailed calculation, explain whether the time of flight for the second package is less than, equal to, or greater than that of the first. Justify your answer.