Question

A fox sees a piece of carrion being thrown from a hawk's nest and rushes to snatch it. The nest is 14.0 m high, and the carrion is thrown with a horizontal velocity of 1.5 m/s. The fox is 7.0 m from the base of the tree. What is the magnitude of the fox's average velocity if it grabs the carrion in its mouth just as it touches the ground?
(Assume no air resistance and that ay = g = 9.81 m/s2.)

I made out a small graph and I think that first I need to find out how long it takes for the carrion to hit the ground?

Answer 1

yes. you also need horizontal distance covered by carrion

Answer 2

and then simply use average velocity=(7+x)/t

Answer 3

im assuming you know how to calculate the time

Answer 4

I hope it would be ok if you could walk me through the problem? I have more like it and I really want to make sure I'm at least doing this one right.

Answer 5

So since I don't know where the carrion lands, and there's no air resistance I can just calculate it right out, right?

Answer 6

ok. so to start off with, consider only vertical motion

Answer 7

it's being pulled down by gravity at -9.1m/s^2

Answer 8

we have initial velocity=0, acc.=9.81, s=14m and t=unknown

Answer 9

sorry, -9.81

Answer 10

but if you take that as negative, you'll need to take displacement as negative too

Answer 11

which equation of motion do you think will be suitable?

Answer 12

so I have to take it as a positive?

Answer 13

doesn't really matter

Answer 14

I'm actually not sure. I think it would be vertical motion of a projectile that falls from rest?

Answer 15

yes

Answer 16

how many equations do you know?