Answer: 3.13 m/s
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step is to calculate the potential energy of the plate by applying the formula,
potential energy = mgh
where
m is the mass of the plate
g is the acceleration due to gravity and its value is 9.81 m/s^2
h is the height
From the information given,
m = 0.125
h = 0.5
Potential energy = 0.125 x 9.81 x 0.5 = 0.613125
At the point where the plate strikes the ground, all the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Thus, kinetic energy = 0.613125 J
The formula for calculating kinetic energy is
kinetic energy = 1/2mv^2
where v is the velocity
Thus,
0.613125 = 1/2 0.125 x v^2
0.613125 = 0.0625v^2
v^2 = 0.613125/0.0625 = 9.81
v = √9.81
v = 3.13 m/s