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starrie3377
Mar 26, 2007, 06:12 PM
Alysen sets sail into the west upon graduating from her 7 year high school program. She ends up stranded on an island in the South Pacific with only coconuts to eat. Even the monekys know that the coconuts must hit the ground with a velocity of 80m/s to break open. Alysen climbs a 10 m high tree and throws a cocnut down at 5m/s. FInd the final velocity and decide if Alysen will starve or if she is a monkeys aunt.

asterisk_man
Mar 26, 2007, 06:32 PM
here's two equations which include acceleration, initial velocity, initial position, time.

s=\frac{at^2} 2+v_0t+s_0 \\
v=at+v_0


first figure out how long it takes to fall 10m with initial velocity of 5m/s
then calculate the velocity after that time

using s equation

0=\frac{-9.8t^2}2 - 5t+10 \\
\text{use quadradic equation} \\
t=\left[-2.027,1.007\right]

we can discard the negative result in this case because we don't have negative time. So it takes 1.007s for the coconut to hit the ground.

using v equation

v=-9.8*1.007-5=-14.869


so the coconut won't come close to breaking.