A helicopter is dropping a package of rescue supplies to a group of stranded hikers. If it drops the supplies while it is hovering 172m above the hikers, how long does it take to hit the ground?

This question is incomplete

Explanation:

This question is incomplete because of the absence of the average velocity at which the supplies are travelling in air. The formula to be used here if the completed question is obtained is

Average velocity (in m/s) =  distance (m) ÷ time (s)

Since we are looking for the time, then time should be made the subject of the formula

time (in secs) = distance ÷ average velocity

speed of light in vacuum is 300,000 km/s

speed of light in other mediums is given by the expression v = c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index of medium.

for the first medium v = 200,000 km/s

  so, refractive index of medium = 300000/200000 = 1.5

    1.5 refractive index is usually for glass. so first medium is glass.

for the second medium v = 250,00 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/250000 = 1.2

    1.2 refractive index is usually for water. so second medium is water.

for the third medium v = 0 km/s

so, refractive index of medium = 300000/0 = ∞

    ∞ refractive index is usually for opaque mediums. so third medium is opaque medium.