Question

A student (m = 68 kg) falls freely from rest and strikes the ground. During the collision with the ground, he comes to rest in a time of 0.04 s. The average force exerted on him by the ground is +18000 N, where the upward direction is taken to be the positive direction. From what height did the student fall? Assume that the only force acting on him during the collision is that due to the ground.

Answer 1

Answer:

5.7141 m

Explanation:

Here the potential and kinetic energy will balance each other

$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2\\\Rightarrow v=\sqrt{2gh}$

This is the initial velocity of the system and the final velocity is 0

t = Time taken = 0.04 seconds

F = Force = 18000 N

a = Acceleration

g = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s²

Equation of motion

$v=u+at\\\Rightarrow a=\frac{v-u}{t}$

From Newton's second law

$F=ma\\\Rightarrow F=m\frac{v-u}{t}\\\Rightarrow 18000=68\frac{0-\sqrt{2gh}}{0.04}\\\Rightarrow \frac{18000}{68}\times 0.04=-\sqrt{2\times 9.81\times h}\\\Rightarrow 10.58823=-\sqrt{2\times 9.81\times h}$

Squarring both sides

$112.11061=2\times 9.81\times h\\\Rightarrow h=\frac{112.11061}{2\times 9.81}\\\Rightarrow h=5.7141\ m$

The height from which the student fell is 5.7141 m