Final answer:
During the jump to a birdfeeder, a squirrel is acted on by gravity, air resistance, and contact forces upon landing. Its small size aids in reaching a terminal velocity, and its flexible limbs help absorb the impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a squirrel jumps from a tree limb onto a birdfeeder, several forces are acting on it. The most significant force is gravity, pulling the squirrel towards the ground. As it moves through the air, air resistance or drag also acts on the squirrel, opposing its motion and reducing its acceleration. If we assume no air resistance for a moment and calculate the squirrel's velocity right before it lands, we would use the formula v = √(2gh), where g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height from which it falls. However, in real-life scenarios, the squirrel's small size and large surface area relative to its mass allow it to reach a terminal velocity during free fall, where the air resistance balances the force of gravity and the squirrel falls at a constant speed, reducing the impact upon landing.
Furthermore, when the squirrel impacts the feeder, contact forces act upon it. The squirrel's muscles and flexible limbs absorb and dissipate kinetic energy, allowing it to land safely without harm. This is significantly different from how humans interact with such falls, as a human's mass and size do not permit the same deceleration strategies.