Re: Nasa kinetics lesson

[Tucker Hiatt <thiatt@USFCA.EDU>]

At 3:45 PM -0400 6/5/03, Bob Sciamanda wrote:
> Check it out!
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/05/national/nationalspecial/05SHUT.html

Can we understand how NASA came up with an impact speed of about 530
mph for the falling foam?  Didn't the foam fall from a co-moving
section of the shuttle?  Even allowing for the shuttle's continued
upward acceleration during the foam's brief downward fall (aggravated
by a downward drag force), doesn't 530 mph seem a tad speedy?

- Tucker
--
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Tucker Hiatt
Physics Instructor & Wonderfest Director
The Branson School
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