A tiger leaps horizontally out of a tree that is 4.30 m high. If she lands 5.40 m from the base of the tree, calculate her initial speed 𝑣0 . (Neglect any effects due to air resistance.)

Question

t= 4.30/9.8 x0.5 =0.88s v_i= 5.40/0.88 = 6.14 I got the answer wrong

Answer 1

We need to find the time that the tiger is in the air. For any body, starting with 0 vertical velocity, the vertical distance traveled is

h = (1/2) * a * t * t

So, to fall h = 4.3 m takes

t = sqrt(2 * h / a) = sqrt(2 * 4.3 / 9.81) = 0.94 seconds.

The tiger travels horizontally d = 5.4 m in this time, so the horizontal velocity is then

v = d / t = 5.4 / 0.94 = 5.77 m/s