Final answer:
To calculate the distance the cherry pit will travel horizontally, we use the time it takes for the pit to fall vertically to the ground, then multiply that time by the car's horizontal velocity. The cherry pit travels horizontally for about 8.12 meters before it hits the ground.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating Horizontal Displacement
To determine how far horizontally the cherry pit will travel before hitting the ground, we must calculate the time it takes to reach the ground and then use the horizontal velocity to find the displacement. Since the vertical and horizontal motions are independent, we can solve for the time the cherry pit is in the air using the following formula for the vertical motion under gravity:
h = ½gt², where h is the height (1.0 m), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²), and t is the time in seconds. Rearranging the formula to solve for time (t), we get t = √(2h/g).
After calculating the time, we multiply it by the horizontal velocity of the car (18 m/s) to find the horizontal displacement (x = vt).
Let's perform the calculation:
- First, find the time to hit the ground: t = √(2h/g) = √(2*1.0 m / 9.81 m/s²) = √(0.204 s²) = 0.451 s (approximately).
- Next, calculate the horizontal displacement: x = vt = 18 m/s * 0.451 s = 8.12 m.
Therefore, the cherry pit will hit the ground approximately 8.12 meters horizontally from the initial dropping point.