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A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower $100\, m$ high and at the same time another stone is projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of $25\, m/s$. Calculate when and where the two stones will meet.
$45.4\, m$ and $31.6 \,m$
$35.4\, m$ and $25.6 \,m$
$25.4\, m$ and $19.6 \,m$
$78.4\, m$ and $20.6 \,m$
Solution

Let the two stones meet after a time $t$.
When the stone dropped from the tower
Initial velocity,$ u = 0 \,m/s$
Let the displacement of the stone in time $t$ from the top of the tower be $s$.
Acceleration due to gravity, $g = 9.8\, ms^{-2}$
From the equation of motion,
$s=u t+\frac{1}{2} a t^{2}$
$s=0 \times t+\frac{1}{2} \times 9.8 \times t^{2}$
$\Rightarrow s=4.9 t^{2}$………….$(1)$
When the stone thrown upwards
Initial velocity, $u = 25\, ms^{-1}$
Let the displacement of the stone from the ground in time $t$ be $s^{\prime}$.
Acceleration due to gravity, $g = -9.8\, ms^{-2}$
Equation of motion,
$\quad s=u t+\frac{1}{2} a t^{2}$
$s^{\prime}=25 \times t-\frac{1}{2} \times 9.8 \times t^{2}$
$\Rightarrow s^{\prime}=25 t-4.9 t^{2}……………..(2)$
The combined displacement of both the stones at the meeting point is equal to the height of the tower $100\, m$.
$s^{\prime}+s=100$
$\Rightarrow 25 t-4.9 t^{2}+4.9 t^{2}=100$
$\Rightarrow t=\frac{100}{25} s=4 s$
In $4 s$,
The falling stone has covered a distance given by $(1)$ as $s=4.9 \times 4^{2}=78.4\, m$
Therefore, the stones will meet after $4 \,s$ at a height $(100 – 78.4) = 20.6 \,m$ from the ground.