Question

A sandal is dropped from the top of a 15.0-m-high mast on a ship moving at 1.75 m/s due south. Calculate the velocity of the sandal when it hits the deck of the ship: (a) relative to the ship and (b) relative to a stationary observer on shore. (c) Discuss how the answers give a consistent result for the position at which the sandal hits the deck.

a) $-17.1 \textrm{ m/s}$

b) $17.2 \textrm{ m/s, } 84.2^\circ \textrm{ below horizontal to the South}$

Solution Video

# OpenStax College Physics Solution, Chapter 3, Problem 61 (Problems & Exercises) (5:47)

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Submitted by fmiren on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 12:08

Shouldn't the both velocities be negative?

Submitted by ShaunDychko on Fri, 07/24/2020 - 14:57

Hello fmiren,
Thank you very much for your comment. I agree that part (a) should be negative since I implied that down is the negative direction when stating that acceleration due to gravity is negative. I have updated the solution. Part (b), however, I've left unchanged. The purpose of the negative sign is to indicate direction, but the direction is given explicitly, and it doesn't go along one of the axes.
Thanks again, and all the best,
Shaun