Final answer:
The worm dropped from the top of the tallest tree in the world would fall under the influence of gravity. Calculating using the formula for free fall gives a time of approximately 4.9 seconds to hit the ground. The closest given option is D. Approximately 5.0 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time it takes for a bird to drop a worm from the top of the tallest tree in the world can be calculated using the equation of motion under the influence of gravity. Assuming the tree is 116 m tall and ignoring air resistance, the worm is subject to the acceleration due to gravity, which on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s². The time (t) taken to reach the ground can be calculated using the formula t = √(2h/g), where h is the height from which the worm is dropped and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Plugging in the values, we get t = √(2*116/9.8), which calculates to approximately 4.9 seconds. However, this value is not one of the provided options, indicating possible simplification or a typo in the question's options. Given the options, the closest estimate to the calculated time would be D. Approximately 5.0 seconds, but please note that this is a rounded value and the true calculated time is slightly less.