A pelican flying along a horizontal path drops a fish from a height of 3.3 m. The fish travels 8.2 m horizontally before it hits the water below.

Question

What was the pelican's initial speed? The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s^.
Answer in units of m/s.

If the pelican was traveling at the same speed but was only 1.6 m above the water, how far would the fish travel horizontally before hitting the water below?
Answer in units of m.

Answer 1

1. Dx = Xo*Tf = 8.2 m.

h = 0.5g*Tf^2 = 3.3 m.
4.9*Tf^2 = 3.3.
Tf^2 = 0.673.
Tf = 0.821 s. = Fall time.

Xo*0.821 = 8.2 m.
Xo = 10.0 m/s.

2. Dx = Xo*Tf.

h = 0.5g*Tf^2 = 1.6 m.
4.9*Tf^2 = 1.6.
Tf^2 = 0.327.
Tf = 0.571 s.

Dx = 10m/s * 0.571s. = 5.71 m.