Mechanics: 1-Dimensional Kinematics

1-D Kinematics: Audio Guided Solutions

Problem 25:

For years, the tallest tower in the United States was the Phoenix Shot Tower in Baltimore, Maryland. The shot tower was used from 1828 to1892 to make lead shot for pistols and rifles and molded shot for cannons and other instruments of warfare. Molten lead was dropped from the top of the 234-foot (71.3 meter) tall tower into a vat of water. During its free fall, the lead would form a perfectly spherical droplet and solidify. Determine the time of fall and the speed of a lead shot upon hitting the water at the bottom.

Audio Guided Solution

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Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

  • Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., vo = 0 m/s; a = 4.2 m/s/s; vf = 22.9 m/s; d = ???.
  • Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
  • Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Kinematics at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

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