Exploration of Mars is popular this year in Science news and FIRST Lego League, so . . .
The height an object at rest needs to be on Mars to achieve 10 ft/sec
velocity SOLELY due to Mars gravity is 4 feet. This is the width of the
plywood sheets in the BOM. So a platform 4 feet high, terraced on one side
and on Mars would satisfy both the velocity tip and the "Stairway to
Heaven" tip.
Just something to think about.
1) Lyrics from "Stairway to Heaven"
2) Vmax = 10 ft/sec, but the clue does not say Vmax is on Earth.
Acceleration on Mars is 3.73 meters/sec/sec, or 12.23 ft/sec/sec.
Velocity(f) = velocity(o) + [acceleration(g) x time]
Velocity(f) = final velocity = 10 ft/sec (from clue)
Velocity(o) = initial velocity = 0 ft/sec (body at rest)
Acceleration(g) = Mars gravity = 12.23 ft/sec/sec
Time = 0.82 seconds
To determine the height an object would need to be to achieve this
velocity, you would use the distance equation:
X(f) = X(o) + [V(o)t] + 1/2[att]
X(f) = final distance
X(o) = initial distance = 0 (starting point)
V(o) = initial velocity = 0 ft/sec
t = time = 0.82 seconds
a = Mars gravity = 12.23 ft/sec
tt = time squared = 0.6724
X(f) = 4 feet (approximately)