Question

a diver jumps off a cliff with an intial velocity of 5.0 m/s. the diver strikes the water 3.0s later. what is the vertical speed of the diver upon reaching the surface of the water?

Answer 1

wondering which direction did he jump? Vertically up, vertically down, or horizontal?

Answer 2

initial velocity up or down or horizontal ? (Note - Velocity vector has direction; speed does not. Speed needs speedometer. Velocity needs speedometer and compass.) I define v up and Vi is initial v up. Hi is height of cliff and h is height of diver above water, zero at splashdown.
v = Vi - g t
h = Hi +Vi t - 4.9 t^2