How to Calculate the Speed Needed for a Car to Launch off a Cliff

What is the scenario related to launching a car off a cliff?

A stunt man launches a car from the edge of a cliff horizontally. If he is launching off a 30-meter high cliff and must hit a mark 268-meters down range, with what speed must he leave the cliff?

Answer:

All I got to say is that he is dead

When solving for the speed needed for the car to launch off a cliff, we can use the principles of projectile motion. In this scenario, the car is launched horizontally from the cliff, which means the initial vertical velocity is 0 m/s. The only force acting on the car in the vertical direction is gravity.

Using the kinematic equation for vertical motion, we can calculate the time it takes for the car to hit the mark down range. The formula is:

t = sqrt(2h/g)

Where t is the time of flight, h is the height of the cliff (30 meters in this case), and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2).

Once we have the time of flight, we can use it to calculate the horizontal velocity needed for the car to travel 268 meters. The formula for horizontal velocity is:

v = d/t

Where v is the horizontal velocity, d is the horizontal distance (268 meters in this case), and t is the time of flight.

By calculating the horizontal velocity, we can determine the speed at which the car must leave the cliff to hit the mark down range. Remember to consider any air resistance or friction that may affect the motion of the car.