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Horizontal Launch

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 34 of 94.

Launched horizontally, an object starts with zero vertical velocity. The height sets the time; the launch speed sets the distance:

h = ½ g t², x = v0 t

The horizontal part of the velocity stays the same; only the vertical part grows.

A ball launched horizontally with velocity v0 from the top of a cliff of height h follows a curved path and lands a distance x from the base. Partway down, its velocity v is split into a horizontal part vx, as long as v0, and a vertical part vy pointing down.

The horizontal part of the velocity stays v0; only the vertical part grows.

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Challenge

A diver runs straight off a cliff, moving horizontally, and falls 44.1 m to the sea. Find the time t of the fall.

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