Question

An apple falls out of a tree. It takes 3.5 seconds to reach the ground. What is the apple's speed in m/s as it hits the ground?

a. The apple's speed as it hits the ground is 34.3 m/s.
b. The apple's speed as it hits the ground is 3.5 m/s.
c. The apple's speed as it hits the ground is 9.8 m/s (acceleration due to gravity).

Answer 1

The apple's speed as it hits the ground is 34.3 m/s, which is calculated using the equation of motion v = gt, where g is 9.8 m/s^2 and t is 3.5 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the speed of an apple falling from a tree just before it hits the ground. Given that the apple takes 3.5 seconds to reach the ground and that the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2, we can calculate the final velocity using the equation of motion v = gt, where v is the final velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and t is the time. Plugging in the values, we get v = 9.8 m/s2 × 3.5 s = 34.3 m/s.

Therefore, the correct answer is: a. The apple's speed as it hits the ground is 34.3 m/s.