More Challenging Kinematics Problems

1. Romeo throws a present up to Juliet, who is standing on a balcony 10.0m above. At

the same moment Juliet drops a rose to Romeo. The present and rose collide 3.0m from
the ground.
a)
b)
c)
d)

What is the initial velocity of the rose Juliet drops?

What is the acceleration on both objects?
How long does it take the two objects to hit each other?
What is the initial velocity of Romeos present?

Answers: a) 0m/s (it is dropped not thrown)

b) a = -9.81 m/s2 (gravity for both)
c) t = 1.2s (use the information from Juliets rose: vi = 0, a = -9.81, d = -7.0m to
determine)
d) vi = 8.4 m/s [up] or +8.4m/s
(use t from c) as well as a = -9.81, d = 3.0m)
NOTE: 2 sig figs!!!
2. Romeo is paddling down the lake at a speed of 4.5m/s. Juliet is standing on a
bridge and drops Romeo a rose when Romeo is 2.5m away. If Juliet expects the
rose to land in Romeos arms, how high is the bridge that Juliet is standing on?
Answer: Assume vi = 0m/s for the rose (as it is dropped not thrown)
a = -9.81ms/2 (gravity)
d=?
For Romeo: constant velocity/speed means you can use the equation v = d/t (Rearrange)
to solve for t.
t = d/v = 2.5/4.5 = 0.56 s
Now sub this time to use in the rose section to solve for d or height above bridge.
D = vit +0.5at2
D = -1.5m
The bridge is only 1.5 m above the river.
3. Juliets parents are mad that she snuck off to see Romeo so they put her in a
balcony that is 25m above the ground, hoping this will keep her away from her
love. Romeo comes to visit Juliet and she drops two roses to Romeo from her
balcony. She drops the first one 1.5s before she drops the second one. How high
is the second rose when the first rose hits the ground?
Answer: Assume vi for both roses is 0m/s.
D = -25m (for first rose remember the rose is falling from above so the displacement
is negative)
A = -9.81m/s2 (gravity) this can be used for both roses
Solve for time for rose 1 to hit the ground. Then use this information to find the
displacement for the other rose.
T for rose 1 = 2.3s
T for rose 2 = 2.3s 1.5s = 0.8s (the second rose only has 0.8 seconds to fall)
D for rose 2 = -3.1m
The rose has fallen 3.1m but this is actually a height of 25 3.1 = 21.9m in the air!