Superman to the Rescue!

You are falling down to the ground from a height of 1200 m 1200 \text{ m} , descending at a speed of 200 m/s 200\text{ m/s} . At the moment you started falling, Superman is flying up at a constant speed of 300 m/s 300\text{ m/s} to catch you. Approximately how many seconds will you have to wait until Superman catches you?

Details and Assumptions :

  • Neglect air drag.
  • Take acceleration due to gravity be g = 10 m / s 2 g = 10 m/{s}^{2}


The answer is 2.3.

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1 solution

Ammarah Ehsan
May 5, 2016

Initial velocity of freely falling body (you) is v i = 200 m / s v_i = 200 m/s .

And the gravitational acceleration acting on you is a = g = 10 m / s 2 a = g = 10 m/s^2 .

Initial and final velocities of Superman are same as no external force is acting on it i.e.

v i = v f = v = 300 m / s a = 0 m / s 2 v_i' = v_f' = v = 300 m/s \implies a = 0 m/s^2

We can find the displacement of the falling body and Superman at any time using 2nd equation of motion i.e.,

S = v i × t + 0.5 a × t 2 S = v_i \times t + 0.5a \times t^2

For example displacements of falling body and Superman after t = 1 t = 1 s would be 205 m and 300 m respectively.

But we have to find the time when the Superman meets the body in air. For this we can form an equation by equating the sum of displacements of both parties to the total distance between them i.e., 1200 m and then solving for time.

Displacement of falling body = S f = 200 t + 0.5 ( 10 ) × t 2 = 200 t + 5 t 2 S_f = 200t + 0.5(10) \times t^2 = 200t + 5t^2

Displacement of Superman = S p = 300 t + 0.5 ( 0 ) × t 2 = 300 t S_p = 300t + 0.5(0) \times t^2 = 300t

Now according to given condition,

S f + S p = 1200 S_f + S_p = 1200

200 t + 5 t 2 + 300 t = 1200 200t + 5t^2 + 300t =1200

5 t 2 + 500 t 1200 = 0 5t^2 + 500t -1200 = 0

Solving the quadratic equation for t gives two values: 2.34 , 102.34 2.34 , -102.34 .

Since time cannot be negative, the only possible solution is 2.34 2.34 which is the answer.

Nicely explained! I upvoted your solution! (+1). I have edited the Latex in your solutions so that others can understand it better.

Pranshu Gaba - 5 years, 1 month ago

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Thank you!

Ammarah Ehsan - 5 years, 1 month ago

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