Question

While studying stalactites in a cave, Hannah dropped her lantern down a hole 35m deep. How fastwas it traveling when it hit the ground? Use energy equations.

Answer 1

Given data

*The given height is h = 35 m

*The value of the acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.8 m/s^2

The formula for the speed of the lantern is given by the conservation of energy as

`\begin{gathered} U_p=U_k \\ mgh=(1)/(2)mv^2 \\ v=\sqrt[]{2gh} \end{gathered}`

Substitute the known values in the above expression as

`\begin{gathered} v=\sqrt[]{2*9.8*35} \\ =26.19\text{ m/s} \end{gathered}`

Hence, the speed of the lantern is v = 26.19 m/s