Final answer:
The physics book will not fall a significant distance from the tabletop. Therefore, the statement is False.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer is b. False.
According to the question, the physics book slides off a horizontal tabletop with a speed of 2.50 m/s and strikes the floor in 0.400 s. We can use the kinematic equation:
d = v0t + 0.5at²
where d is the distance traveled, v0 is the initial velocity, t is the time, and a is the acceleration.
Since the book is sliding off the table horizontally, its initial vertical velocity is 0. Therefore, the equation becomes:
d = 0 + 0.5at²
Substituting the given values:
d = 0 + 0.5(9.8)(0.400)² = 0.784 m
The book would have fallen a vertical distance of 0.784 m, which is not a significant distance considering the height of a table. Therefore, option b, False, is the correct answer.