Question

A cat accidentally falls out a window 12 m high, and lands (on his feet - not that it matters) 4.5

m from the wall below the window. How fast was the cat moving horizontally when it left the
window?

Answer 1

To determine the horizontal speed of the cat when it left the window, we can use the principle of conservation of energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the horizontal speed of the cat when it left the window, we can use the principle of conservation of energy. The potential energy the cat had at the window is converted to kinetic energy when it reaches the ground.

1. First, calculate the time it takes for the cat to fall from the window to the ground using the equation √(2h / g), where h = 12m (the height) and g = 9.8 m/s² (acceleration due to gravity).
2. Next, calculate the horizontal distance traveled by the cat using the equation d = vx * t, where d = 4.5m (horizontal distance) and t is the time calculated in the previous step.
3. Finally, rearrange the equation from the second step to solve for the horizontal speed, vx = d / t.

So, the horizontal speed of the cat when it left the window is approximately 1.5 m/s.