Question

If Wile E. Coyote falls off a cliff, his height at any time 't' can be described by which of the following equations?

a) h = 1/2 * g * t²
b) h = v₀ * t + 1/2 * g * t²
c) h = v₀ * t - 1/2 * g * t²
d) h = v₀ * t

Answer 1

The correct equation describing Wile E. Coyote's height after falling is b) h = v₀ * t + 1/2 * g * t², assuming he falls from rest; the velocity upon impact can be calculated using v² = v₀² + 2g * h.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct equation to describe the height h of Wile E. Coyote at any time t after falling off a cliff, assuming he started from rest, is:

b) h = v₀ * t + 1/2 * g * t²

This equation is derived from the kinematic equations of motion for an object under the influence of gravity. Here, v₀ is the initial velocity (which is zero if he falls from rest), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² on Earth), and t is the time in seconds. If we know the height from which Coyote falls, we can use this to calculate the velocity with which he hits the ground using the kinematic equation:

v² = v₀² + 2g * h

This is sometimes referred to as Torricelli's theorem.