Question

A gull is flying horizontally 10.80 m above the ground at 6.00 m/s. The bird is carrying a clam in its beak and plans to crack the clamshell by dropping it on some rocks below. (Ignore air resistance.) With what speed relative to the gull does the clam smash into the rocks?

Answer 1

Answer:

v_y = 14.55 m/s

Explanation:

given,

height at which gull is flying = 10.80 m

speed of the gull = 6 m/s

acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²

Relative to the seagull, the x-speed is 0,

because the seagull has the same x-speed.

Only the y-speed counts:

$v_y^2 = u^2 + 2 g h$

$v_y^2 = 0^2 + 2 g h$

$v_y = \sqrt{2gh}$

$v_y = \sqrt(2\times 9.8 \times 10.8)$  

$v_y = \sqrt(211.68)$

v_y = 14.55 m/s

hence, the speed at which the clam smash the rock is v_y = 14.55 m/s