Question

A cat is chasing a mouse across a 1.3 m tall dining table. The mouse darts to the side and the cat accidentally slides off, landing clumsily 0.75 m away from the edge of the table. How long did it take the cat to hit the ground? (1 point)
0.78 seconds
0.51 seconds
0.27 seconds
0.95 seconds

Using the information you solved for in problem 9, how fast was the cat moving when it fell off the table? (1 point)
2.97 m/s
1.45 m/s
3.81 m/s
6.93 m/s

Answer 1

consider the motion of the cat along the vertical direction after sliding off the table

Y = vertical displacement of the cat from top of the table to the ground = - 1.3 m

v₀ = initial velocity along the Y-direction of the cat = 0 m/s

a = acceleration of the cat = acceleration due to gravity = - 9.8 m/s²

t = time taken to hit the ground

using the kinematics equation

Y = v₀ t + (0.5) a t²

- 1.3 = 0 t + (0.5) (- 9.8) t²

- 1.3 = - 4.9 t²

t = 0.51 sec

consider the motion of the cat along the horizontal direction  :

v = velocity along the horizontal direction =

t = time of travel = 0.51 sec

X = horizontal displacement of the cat = 0.75 m

using the kinematics equation

X = v t                             (Since there is no acceleration along the horizontal

                                      direction)

inserting the values

0.75 = v (0.51)

v = 1.45 m/s