Question

A pelican flying along a horizontal path drops
a fish from a height of 3.3 m. The fish travels
8.7 m horizontally before it hits the water
below.
What was the pelican’s initial speed? The
acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s
2
.
Answer in units of m/s

Answer 1

time to travel horizontal distance (8.7m) = time to fall vertical distance (3.3m)

(a) solve for t in the vertical direction
(i) initial speed in vertical direction is 0 m/s
(ii) d = (initial speed in vertical diection)t + 1/2 g t^2
3.3 m = 0 + 1/2(9.81 m/s) t^2
(iii) solve for 't'

(b) calculate initial speed using
horizontal distance = initial speed in horizontal direction x time
(i) 8.7 m = initial speed x time
(ii) solve for initial speed