What is the velocity of a car that falls off a cliff?

In summary, the police at the scene of an accident note that a car drove off a 53 m high cliff and landed 139 m from the base of the cliff. Using the distance and gravity, the time it took for the car to fall was found to be 3.29 seconds. The horizontal velocity of the car can then be calculated using the formula v=d/t.
  • #1
Maty
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Homework Statement



A car drives straight off the edge of a cliff that is 53 m high. The police at the scene of the accident note that the point of impact is 139 m from the base of the cliff. How fast was the car traveling when it went over the cliff?

Homework Equations



Distance=Acceleration*(Time^2) and any other distance, acceleration, velocity, time formulas.

The Attempt at a Solution



My attempt was to use the vertical distance and gravity to find the time it took to fall, and then somehow use that time (3.29s) to find the horizontal velocity. But I have no idea how to do that, and not even sure if I started it out right.
 
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  • #2
Never mind, I had the right number (3.29s) but wrong idea. Just had to plug in that number in v=d/t to get the velocity... Durr.
 

Related to What is the velocity of a car that falls off a cliff?

1. How is horizontal velocity calculated?

Horizontal velocity is calculated by dividing the horizontal distance traveled by the time it takes to travel that distance.

2. What is the formula for finding horizontal velocity?

The formula for finding horizontal velocity is v = d/t, where v is the velocity, d is the horizontal distance traveled, and t is the time it takes to travel that distance.

3. Can horizontal velocity be negative?

Yes, horizontal velocity can be negative if the object is moving in the opposite direction of the chosen reference point. For example, if the reference point is to the right and the object is moving to the left, the horizontal velocity would be negative.

4. How does horizontal velocity affect an object's trajectory?

Horizontal velocity determines the speed at which an object moves horizontally. It does not affect the object's trajectory, which is determined by the force of gravity and the initial vertical velocity.

5. How can horizontal velocity be measured in an experiment?

Horizontal velocity can be measured in an experiment by using a device that measures distance and time, such as a stopwatch and a ruler. The horizontal distance traveled by the object can be measured and the time it takes to travel that distance can be recorded. The horizontal velocity can then be calculated using the formula v = d/t.

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