You are standing at the top of a cliff that has a stairstep configuration. There

Question

You are standing at the top of a cliff that has
a stairstep configuration. There is a vertical
drop of 5 m at your feet, then a horizontal
shelf of 5 m, then another drop of 5 m to the
bottom of the canyon, which has a horizontal
floor. You kick a 0.58 kg rock, giving it an
initial horizontal velocity that barely clears
the shelf below.

What initial horizontal velocity v will be
required to barely clear the edge of the shelf
below you? The acceleration of gravity is
9.8 m/s2 . Consider air friction to be negligi-
ble.
Answer in units of m/s.

How far from the bottom of the second cliff
will the projectile land?
Answer in units of m.

Explanation / Answer

Let the horizontal velocity required be , vh.

time taken to clear the shelf, t= horizontal distance/horizontal velocity = 5/vh

vertical distance covered, s= 5 m

using, s=ut+(1/2)at²

5=0+0.5*9.81*(5/vh)²

or, vh= 4.95 m/s

time required to cover 10 m Verona distance.

10= 0.5*9.81*t'²

or, t'=1.43 s

horizontal distance covered in t' s,

d= vh*t' = 4.95*1.43= 7.08 m

distance from the second Cliff, x = 7.08- 5= 2.08 m

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