The Secret Behind Stunt Car's Flying Ability

How can a stunt car traveling at a certain speed fly off a cliff and land at a specific distance? What factors determine the height of the cliff in this scenario? The ability of a stunt car to fly off a cliff and land at a certain distance is determined by several factors, including the car's initial velocity, the horizontal distance it travels, and the height of the cliff. By analyzing these factors and applying the laws of physics, we can determine the height of the cliff in this scenario.

When a stunt car travels at a certain speed and flies horizontally off a cliff, it follows a projectile motion trajectory influenced by gravity. The horizontal distance it lands from the base of the cliff is a result of its initial velocity and the time it takes to reach the ground.

In the given scenario, the stunt car had an initial velocity of 20 m/s and landed 39.2 m from the base of the cliff. By calculating the time it took for the car to reach the ground, we can determine the height of the cliff.

First, we calculate the time taken for the car to reach the ground using the formula: s = ut, where s is the horizontal distance, u is the initial velocity, and t is the time taken.

Given s = 39.2 m and u = 20 m/s, we can find t as follows:

t = s / u = 39.2 / 20 = 1.96 seconds

Next, we use the calculated time and the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) to determine the height of the cliff using the formula: h = ½gt².

Substituting the values, we get:

h = ½ × 9.8 × (1.96)² = 18.82 meters

Therefore, the height of the cliff in this scenario is 18.82 meters. This calculation showcases the physics principles behind the stunt car's flying ability and provides insights into the dynamics of projectile motion.

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