Final answer:
The flea is in the air for approximately 0.45 seconds from the time it jumps to the time it hits the ground.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the time it takes for the flea to hit the ground, we can use the equation for motion in free fall: d = 1/2 * g * t^2, where d is the distance fallen, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time taken. We can rearrange the equation to solve for t:
t = sqrt(2 * d / g)
Given that the flea jumps from a height of 1.0 m vertically off the ground, the distance fallen is 1.0 m. The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s^2. Plugging in these values, we get:
t = sqrt(2 * 1.0 / 9.8) = 0.45 seconds (rounded to three significant figures).