Question

A crow is flying horizontally with a constant speed of 2.70 m/s when it releases a clam from its beak. the clam lands on the rocky beach 2.10 s later. just before the clam lands, what is (a) its horizontal component of velocity, and (b) its vertical component of velocity? (c) how would your answers to parts (a) and (b) change if the speed of the crow were increased? explain.

Answer 1

Part a)

in horizontal direction there is no gravity or no other acceleration

so in horizontal direction the speed of clam will remain same

$v_x = 2.70 m/s$

Part b)

In vertical direction we can use kinematics

$v_f = v_i + at$

$v_f = 0 + 2.1 * 9.8$

$v_f = 20.6 m/s$

part c)

if the speed of crow will be increased then the horizontal speed of the clam will also increase but there is no change in the vertical speed