Final answer:
The cliff diver will hit the water 7.0 meters away from the base of the cliff, calculated by multiplying the initial horizontal velocity of 3.5 m/s by the time of 2.0 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cliff diver's situation is a two-dimensional motion problem in physics, where horizontal and vertical motions are considered separately. The diver starts with a horizontal velocity of 3.5 m/s and no initial vertical velocity since the dive is horizontal. During free fall, the only acceleration acting on them is due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s2 downward.
To calculate the horizontal distance that the diver travels before hitting the water, use the formula:
Distance = initial velocity × time
which gives us:
Distance = 3.5 m/s × 2.0 s = 7.0 meters
So the diver will hit the water 7.0 meters away from the base of the cliff.