Question

Free Fall on Different Worlds Objects in free fall on the earth have acceleration ay=−9.8m/s2ay=−9.8m/s2. On the moon, free fall acceleration is approximately 1/61/6 of the acceleration on earth. This changes the scale of problems involving free fall. For instance, suppose you jump straight upward, leaving the ground with velocity vivi and then steadily slowing until reaching zero velocity at your highest point. Because your initial velocity is determined mostly by the strength of your leg muscles, we can assume your initial velocity would be the same on the moon. But considering the equation h=v22gh=v22g we can see that, with a smaller free-fall acceleration, your maximum height would be greater. The following questions ask you to think about how certain athletic feats might be performed in this reduced-gravity environment.

A) If an astronaut can jump straight up to a height of 0.6 mm on earth, how high could he jump on the moon?

B) On the earth, an astronaut can safely jump to the ground from a height of 1.2 mm ; her velocity when reaching the ground is slow enough to not cause injury. From what height could the astronaut safely jump to the ground on the moon?

C) On the earth, an astronaut throws a ball straight upward; it stays in the air for a total time of 2.3 ss before reaching the ground again. If a ball were to be thrown upward with the same initial speed on the moon, how much time would pass before it hit the ground?

Answer 1