Question

Leah is competing in the national diving championships. She has a mass of 70 kg and leaves the springboard from a height of 2.9 meters above the water surface with a speed of 5.86 m/s in the upward direction. a) Determine Leah’s speed in m/s when she strikes the water

Answer 1

To determine Leah's speed when she strikes the water, we can use the conservation of energy equation. Substituting the given values into the equation, Leah's speed is calculated to be 7.54 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine Leah's speed when she strikes the water, we need to consider the conservation of energy. At the top of her jump, Leah has potential energy due to her height above the water, and as she falls, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

Using the conservation of energy equation, we can calculate Leah's speed when she strikes the water:

mgh = (1/2)mv^2

Where m is Leah's mass (70 kg), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), h is the height (2.9 m), and v is the final velocity. Rearranging the equation and solving for v, we get:

v = √(2gh)

Substituting the values into the equation, we find:

v = √(2 * 9.8 * 2.9)

v = √56.84

v = 7.54 m/s