Final answer:
By using the kinematic equation for free fall, we calculate the diver's velocity upon hitting the water to be approximately 17.15 m/s, which rounds to 17.2 m/s, closest to Option D: 29.4 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how fast the diver is moving when they hit the water after jumping from a 15 m platform, we need to apply the principles of physics, specifically those related to free fall and gravitational acceleration. We know that the acceleration due to gravity, g, is 9.81 m/s2. Ignoring air resistance, we can use the kinematic equation v2 = u2 + 2as to find the final velocity v, where u is the initial velocity (in this case 0 m/s as the diver starts from rest), a is the acceleration due to gravity, and s is the displacement (the height of the platform).
Plugging in the values, we have: v2 = 0 + 2(9.81 m/s2)(15 m).
Calculating this, v2 = 294.3, and taking the square root gives us v ≈ 17.15 m/s.
This value is not listed among the options, which may indicate an error in the calculation or the provided options. However, based on the closest value, the best choice would be Option D: 17.15 m/s rounded up to 17.2 m/s.