Question

A 50.1 kg diver steps off a diving board and drops straight down into the water. The water provides an average net force of resistance of 1598 N to the diver’s fall. If the diver comes to rest 5.2 m below the water’s surface, what is the total distance between the diving board and the diver’s stopping point underwater? The acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s 2. Answer in units of m.

Answer 1

The total distance is 16.9 m

Step-by-step explanation:

We understand work in physics as certain force exerted through certain distance. To reach that point below the water, the work done by the diver must be equal to the work done by the water's force of resistance. Therefore, we determine both work expressions and we solve the equation for the diver distance, which is the total distance between the diving board and the stopping point underwater.

`W_(d): work done by diver\\W_(R): work due the force of resistance\\W_(d) = W_(R)\\F_(d)* d_(d)=F_R * d_(R)\\d_(d)= (F_R * d_R)/(F_d)= (F_R * d_R)/(m_d * g)= \frac {1598 N * 5.2 m}{50.1 kg * 9.81 m/s^2}\\d_(d)= 16. 91 m`