Final answer:
When an object hits something at a certain speed, it possesses kinetic energy. To find the equivalent fall of hitting something at 40 mph, we can equate the kinetic energy to the potential energy gained when falling from a certain height. By solving the equation and substituting the given values, we can calculate the number of stories the equivalent fall represents.
Step-by-step explanation:
When hitting something at 40 mph, the equivalent of falling off a __ story building, it is important to consider the energy involved in both scenarios. When an object falls, it gains potential energy depending on its height. This potential energy is then converted into kinetic energy when it reaches the ground.
Similarly, when an object hits something at a certain speed, it also possesses kinetic energy. To find the equivalent of falling off a building, we can equate the kinetic energy of the object hitting something to the potential energy gained when falling.
Let's assume the building has a height of H stories, and the mass of the object is m. The potential energy gained while falling is given by:
PE = m * g * H
Where g is the acceleration due to gravity. On the other hand, the kinetic energy of the object hitting something at a velocity of v is given by:
KE = 0.5 * m * v^2
Setting these two equations equal to each other, we can solve for H:
m * g * H = 0.5 * m * v^2
Canceling out the mass, we get:
g * H = 0.5 * v^2
Now, we can substitute the values for g (gravitational acceleration on Earth) and v (40 mph) to find H:
H = (0.5 * v^2) / g
By plugging in the values for v and g, we can calculate the number of stories represented by the equivalent fall.