High School

A parachutist of mass 39.4 kg jumps out of an airplane at a height of 1340 m and lands on the ground with a speed of 5.78 m/s. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s².

How much energy was lost to air friction during this jump?

Answer :

Final answer:

The solution involves calculating the parachutist's initial potential energy and final kinetic energy, then finding the difference to determine the energy lost to air friction during the jump.

Explanation:

The question asks how much energy was lost to air friction during the jump of a parachutist who has a mass of 39.4 kg, jumps from a height of 1340 m, and lands with a speed of 5.78 m/s. To find the energy lost to air friction, we first calculate the potential energy at the start and the kinetic energy at the end of the jump, then find the difference.

Initial potential energy (PE_initial) is given by mgh, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is height. Therefore, PE_initial = 39.4 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 1340 m.

Final kinetic energy (KE_final) is given by 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity at landing. Thus, KE_final = 1/2 * 39.4 kg * (5.78 m/s)².

The energy lost to air friction equals the initial potential energy minus the final kinetic energy. Subtracting KE_final from PE_initial gives the amount of energy lost to air resistance.

Answer:

Approximately 500kJ

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be converted from one form to another.

A parachutist jumping out of the airplane covering a particular height and under the influence of gravity will possess potential energy during fall. Since PE = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height

PE = 39.4×1340×9.8

PE = 501,562Joules

If the body lands on the ground with a speed of 5.78m/s, this means the body possesses kinetic energy at the point of landing. The kinetic energy on landing is 1/2mv²

KE = 1/2×39.4×5.78²

KE = 658.14Joules

The amount of energy lost due to friction will be PE-KE

= 501,562-658.14

= 500,903Joules approximately 500kJ

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