This problem led to a debate in my physics class, which was never resolved. A helicopter holding a 70kg package from a rope 5m long is accelerating up at a rate of 5.2 m/s^2. Neglect air resistance. When the upward velocity of the helicopter is 30 m/s, the rope is cut and the helicopter continues to rise at a rate of 5.2 m/s^2. Determine the distance between the helicopter and package after 2 seconds. The debate was over whether or not the package had a velocity of 0 or 30m/s after it was cut. I personally believed the package to follow a projectile path upward at a starting velocity of 30 m/s. Am I wrong?