Question

A golf ball is thrown horizontally off a cliff at a velocity of 20 meters per second and takes 4 seconds to reach the ground below . Calculate the height of the cliff.

Answer 1

First, we need to calculate the horizontal distance the golf ball travels before hitting the ground.

The horizontal distance can be calculated using the formula:
distance = rate x time
distance = 20 m/s x 4s
distance = 80 meters

Next, we can use the formula for free fall to calculate the height of the cliff:
height = 1/2 x acceleration due to gravity x time^2
height = 1/2 x 9.8 m/s^2 x (4s)^2
height = 1/2 x 9.8 m/s^2 x 16s^2
height = 1/2 x 9.8 m/s^2 x 256
height = 4.9 x 256
height = 1254.4 meters

Therefore, the height of the cliff is approximately 1254.4 meters.