A cat chases a mouse across a tabletop. The mouse darts to the side at the last minute, causing the

cat to slide off the table. A diagram of the situation is shown below.

v0x=0.7 m/s

y=1.1 m

The cat is moving horizontally across the table 0.7 m/s. The table is 1.1 m above the ground.

Calculate the distance away from the table that the cat lands on the ground. Show all work.

You may use the Physics A equation sheet in the message board with the kinematic equations to solve
this problem. Assume no frictional forces. For simplicity, you may use the value of 10 m/s^2 as the
acceleration due to gravity

1 answer

To solve this problem, we need to calculate how long it takes for the cat to fall to the ground and how far it travels horizontally during that time.

Step 1: Calculate the time of flight

We can use the kinematic equation for vertical motion. The cat falls a vertical distance \(y = 1.1 , \text{m}\) from the table to the ground. The equation we will use is:

\[ y = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 \]

where:

  • \(y\) is the vertical distance (1.1 m),
  • \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \(10 , \text{m/s}^2\)),
  • \(t\) is the time in seconds.

Rearranging the equation to solve for \(t\):

\[ 1.1 = \frac{1}{2} (10) t^2 \]

\[ 1.1 = 5 t^2 \]

\[ t^2 = \frac{1.1}{5} \]

\[ t^2 = 0.22 \]

\[ t = \sqrt{0.22} \approx 0.469 , \text{s} \]

Step 2: Calculate the horizontal distance traveled

The horizontal distance \(x\) that the cat travels while falling can be calculated using the horizontal velocity \(v_{0x} = 0.7 , \text{m/s}\) and the time of flight \(t\) we just calculated:

\[ x = v_{0x} t \]

Substituting the known values:

\[ x = (0.7 , \text{m/s}) \times (0.469 , \text{s}) \]

\[ x \approx 0.328 , \text{m} \]

Conclusion

The cat lands approximately \(0.328 , \text{m}\) away from the edge of the table.