Question

An owl is carrying a mouse to the chicks in its nest. It is 4.00 m west and 12.0 m above the center of the 30 cm diameter nest and is flying east at 4.50 m/s at an angle 35° below the horizontal when it accidentally drops the mouse. Will it fall into the nest? Find out by solving for the horizontal position of the mouse (measured from the point of release) when it has fallen the 12.0 m.

Answer 1

I find this an interesting problem. I don't know if I could solve it, but I would try it this way.
First: I would resolve the direction (velocity) of flight into both a vertical and horizontal component.
Second I would calculate the vertical velocity of the mouse as a result of fall due to gravity.
Thirdly I would calculate the resultant velocity taking in considerate the initial velocity and the average velocity for the 12 meter drop.
Fourth, I would calculate the time it would take to make the 12 meter drop.
Fifth, I would take that value of time and multiply it by the horizontal velocity and determine if the distance obtained is equal to 4 meters within plus or minus 15 cm (.15m)..
I will admit I came up with a value of 4.316 meters which means the mouse dropped just passed the nest.......but I am not sure I did all these steps correctly, I am just saddened that the baby owls are going hungry.

Answer 2

Maybe this helped, maybe not. Good luck with your studies.