Suppose it takes 6 seconds for a watermelon to fall to the ground ...

[burton19126]

Suppose it takes 6 seconds for a watermelon to fall to the ground after being dropped from a tall building.
 
  If there were no air resistance, so that the watermelon would fall with the acceleration of gravity, about how fast would it be going when it hit the ground?

Question 2

Starting from the Big Bang, briefly explain how our solar system came to contain the chemical elements necessary to make Earth and living organisms.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[owenfalvey]

Answer to Question 1

Since the acceleration of gravity is about 10 m/s2, the watermelon gains 10 m/s of speed every second it is in the air. Therefore, the watermelon would be going 60 m/s when it hit the ground.

Answer to Question 2

The Big Bang produced hydrogen and helium. Over time, stars have converted about 2 percent of this material into heavier elements, including all the elements of which we and Earth are made. Stars expel this material through winds and explosions, and the galaxy recycles it into new generations of stars. When a new star system forms, it therefore contains the ingredients needed to make planets and living organisms.