A 50 kg pole vaulter has a horizontal velocity of 8 m/s at the completion of her approach run, and her center of gravity is 1.0 m high. Estimate how high she should be able to vault if her kinetic and potential energies were all converted to potential energy.

Answer 1

ke = (1/2) m v^2
pe = m g h where h is height above one meter

(1/2) m v^2 = m (9.8) h

v^2 = 2 (9.8) h

h = 64/19.6

total height = 64/19.6 + 1