A pole vaulter clears 6.00 m.With what speed does he strike the mat in the landing area?
A)2.70 m/s
B)5.40 m/s
C)10.8 m/s
D)21.6 m/s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assuming no air resistance, the potential energy gained by the pole vaulter while clearing the bar is converted into the kinetic energy when he lands on the mat. We can calculate the potential energy gained by the vaulter by using the formula,

Ek = Ep

mgh = 1/2 mv² where,

m = mass of the vaulter (let's assume it to be 70 kg)
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)
h = height cleared by the vaulter (6.00 m)
v = velocity of the vaulter when landing on the mat (unknown)

Substituting the given values, we get

70 x 9.81 x 6.00 = 1/2 x 70 x v²

v² = (2 x 70 x 9.81 x 6)/70

v² = 117.72

v = sqrt(117.72)

v = 10.8 m/s (approximately)

Therefore, the answer is C) 10.8 m/s.

A Pole Vaulter Clears 6