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A motorcycle stunt driver zones off the end of the road at a speed of 30 m/s. If he lands after 0.75 seconds, what is the height of the cliff?

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Final answer:

Using the kinematic equation for vertical displacement, assuming no initial vertical velocity, the height of the cliff from which a motorcycle stunt driver jumps if they land after 0.75 seconds is approximately 2.74 meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the height of the cliff the motorcycle stunt driver jumps off, we can use the kinematic equation that relates velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement in the vertical direction:

s = ut + ½ at²

where:

  • s is the vertical displacement (height of the cliff)
  • u is the initial vertical velocity (since the driver zones off horizontally, this is 0 m/s)
  • a is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² downward)
  • t is the time in the air (0.75 seconds)

Substituting the known values into the equation gives us:

s = (0 m/s)(0.75 s) + ½ (9.81 m/s²)(0.75 s)²

Clean up the formula and solve for s:

s = 0 + ½ (9.81)(0.5625)

s = ½ (5.4881)

s = 2.74405 m

So, the height of the cliff is approximately 2.74 meters.

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