Question

At a local swimming pool, the diving board is elevated h = 9.5 m above the pool's surface and overhangs the pool edge by L = 2 m. A diver runs horizontally along the diving board with a speed of v0 = 2.7 m/s and then falls into the pool. Neglect air resistance. Use a coordinate system with the horizontal x-axis pointing in the direction of the diver’s initial motion, and the vertical y-axis pointing up. Let the y-axis be directed vertically down. Express the time t_w it takes the diver to move off the end of the diving board to the pool surface in terms of v_0, h, L, and g. Calculate the time, t_w in seconds, it takes the diver to move off the end of the diving board to the pool surface. Determine the horizontal distance, d_w in meters, from the edge of the pool to where the diver enters the water.

Answer 1

1) The time it takes the diver to move off the end of the diving board to the pool surface,
`t_w`, is approximately 1.392 seconds

2) The horizontal distance from the edge of the pool to where the diver enters the water,
`d_w`, is approximately 5.76 meters

Step-by-step explanation:

1) The given parameters are;

The height of the diving board above the pool's surface, h = 9.5 m

The length by which the diving board over hangs the pool L = 2 m

The speed with which the diver runs horizontally along the diving board, v₀ = 2.7 m/s

Taking
`t_w` = The time it takes the diver to move off the end of the diving board to the pool surface

Therefore, we have from the equation of free fall;

h = 1/2 × g ×
`t_w`²

Where;

g = The acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s²

Substituting the values, gives;

9.5 = 1/2 × 9.81 ×
`t_w`²

`t_w` = √(9.5/(1/2 × 9.81)) ≈ 1.392 s

The time it takes the diver to move off the end of the diving board to the pool surface =
`t_w` ≈ 1.392 s

2) The horizontal distance,
`d_w`, in meters from the edge of the pool to where the diver enters the water is given as follows;

`d_w` = L + v₀ ×
`t_w` = 2 + 2.7× 1.392 ≈ 5.76 m

∴ The horizontal distance from the edge of the pool to where the diver enters the water ≈ 5.76 meters.