Math Problem Statement

A 65.0kg person jumps from rest off a 4.10 m high tower down into water. Neglect air resistance during the descent. She comes to rest 1.30 m under the surface of the water. Determine the magnitude of the average force that the water exerts on the diver. This is a non-conservative force.

Solution

To solve for the magnitude of the average force that the water exerts on the diver, let's break the problem into steps:

  1. Calculate the Diver's Speed Just Before Hitting the Water

    • We’ll use energy conservation from the top of the tower to the water surface, since only gravity acts during the fall.

    mgh=12mv2mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2

    where:

    • m=65.0kgm = 65.0 \, \text{kg}
    • g=9.81m/s2g = 9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2
    • h=4.10mh = 4.10 \, \text{m}
    • vv is the speed just before hitting the water.

    Solving for vv:

    v=2gh=29.814.108.97m/sv = \sqrt{2gh} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 4.10} \approx 8.97 \, \text{m/s}

  2. Calculate the Deceleration Underwater

    • Now that we know her speed at the water's surface, we can calculate the deceleration as she comes to a stop 1.30 m underwater.

    We’ll use the kinematic equation:

    v2=u2+2adv^2 = u^2 + 2ad

    where:

    • v=0m/sv = 0 \, \text{m/s} (final speed underwater, as she comes to rest),
    • u=8.97m/su = 8.97 \, \text{m/s},
    • d=1.30md = 1.30 \, \text{m},
    • aa is the deceleration due to the water.

    Rearranging for aa:

    a=v2u22d=0(8.97)221.3030.97m/s2a = \frac{v^2 - u^2}{2d} = \frac{0 - (8.97)^2}{2 \cdot 1.30} \approx -30.97 \, \text{m/s}^2

  3. Calculate the Average Force Exerted by the Water

    • Using Newton’s second law, we can now find the average force exerted by the water, FF, which is equal to mama:

    F=ma=65.030.972013NF = ma = 65.0 \cdot 30.97 \approx 2013 \, \text{N}

    Thus, the magnitude of the average force exerted by the water on the diver is approximately 2013 N.

Would you like further details on any part of this solution, or do you have any questions?


Here are some related questions to explore further:

  1. How would the force change if the diver’s mass were different?
  2. What would be the effect if the water's resistance varied with depth?
  3. How would air resistance alter the diver's speed before hitting the water?
  4. How would the result differ if the water depth were shallower?
  5. What are examples of non-conservative forces in other sports activities?

Tip: In problems involving vertical descent and impact, conserving energy before impact and then applying forces post-impact simplifies the calculation.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Energy Conservation
Kinematics
Forces and Newton’s Second Law

Formulas

mgh = (1/2)mv^2
v^2 = u^2 + 2ad
F = ma

Theorems

Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12