Question

An 89 kg man drops from rest on a diving board −3.1 m above the surface of the water and comes to rest 0.5 s after reaching the water. The acceleration due to gravity is 9.81 m/s^2 . 1. What force does the water exert on the man? Answer in units of N.

Answer 1

To solve this problem we will use the linear motion kinematic equations, for which the change of speed squared with the acceleration and the change of position. The acceleration in this case will be the same given by gravity, so our values would be given as,

$m= 89 kg\\x = 3.1 m\\t = 0.5s\\a = g = 9.8m/s^2$

Through the aforementioned formula we will have to

$v_f^2-v_i^2 = 2ax$

The particulate part of the rest, so the final speed would be

$v_f^2 = 2gx$

$v_f=\sqrt{2(9.8)(3.1)}$

$v_f = 7.79m/s$

Now from Newton's second law we know that

$F = ma$

Here,

m = mass

a = acceleration, which can also be written as a function of velocity and time, then

$F = m\frac{dv}{dt}$

Replacing we have that,

$F = (89)\frac{7.79}{0.5}$

$F = 1386.62N$

Therefore the force that the water exert on the man is 1386.62