Well
Using the standard equations of motion, s=0.5at². So a=2s/t². Therefore if s=110m and t=12s, a=1.52ms^-2.

And if v=at, then v=18.3ms^-1

which is about 40mph.

Although intuitively you'd expect the acceleration and hence the velocity to be a bit more than that.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 10:46, 5 replies, latest was 17 years ago)

Thanks K2!
I don't doubt your maths, but I do doubt my own intuition now!
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Tue 30 Jun 2009, 10:48, Reply)

This makes more sense now I see it
Going to have to double check my maths now and get back to you. Always willing to be proved wrong.
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 10:50, Reply)

damn you
took me longer to decide whether to type it up or not!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 10:51, Reply)

It's actually 40.938mph
using 5280'/mile and 1m=3.281 feet.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:08, Reply)

Given the errors in the length of the tower
and the time, 40mph is close enough!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:10, Reply)

Yeah
Surely we can get more precise data though.

And I just converted your answer into mph.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:16, Reply)

Nope
Sure Nasa sent men to the moon but the only guys that could operate a tape measure were drunk...always.
( Captain V, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:17, Reply)

Well if half the stuff about NASA is true
This fact doesn't phase me in the slightest!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

Thing is,
rockets don't have constant acceleration do they?

They provide constant thrust (ish) but their mass changes.
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:42, Reply)

but over a short period
you can assume a constant average acceleration without too much trouble
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

Well
if you're going to be making assumptions... ;)
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:54, Reply)

I'm an engineer
that's what we do
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 30 Jun 2009, 11:59, Reply)