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Ch 02: Kinematics in One Dimension
Chapter 2, Problem 2

A lead ball is dropped into a lake from a diving board 5.0 m above the water. After entering the water, it sinks to the bottom with a constant velocity equal to the velocity with which it hit the water. The ball reaches the bottom 3.0 s after it is released. How deep is the lake?

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1
Calculate the velocity of the lead ball as it hits the water using the kinematic equation for free fall: \(v = u + at\), where \(u = 0\) m/s (initial velocity), \(a = 9.8\) m/s² (acceleration due to gravity), and \(t\) is the time taken to reach the water. The time to reach the water can be found using the equation \(y = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2\), where \(y = 5.0\) m.
Determine the total time the ball spends moving after being released. Since it takes 3.0 s to reach the bottom after release, subtract the time it took to hit the water from 3.0 s to find the time it spends sinking in the water.
Use the constant velocity (calculated in step 1) to find the depth of the lake below the water surface. Apply the formula for distance traveled at constant velocity: \(d = vt\), where \(v\) is the velocity upon hitting the water and \(t\) is the time spent sinking.
Add the depth of the lake below the water surface (from step 3) to the height of the diving board above the water to find the total depth of the lake.
Summarize the total depth of the lake as the sum of the height of the diving board and the depth of the water below the surface.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Free Fall and Gravitational Acceleration

When an object is dropped from a height, it undergoes free fall, accelerating downwards due to gravity at approximately 9.81 m/s². The distance fallen can be calculated using the equation d = 0.5 * g * t², where d is the distance, g is the gravitational acceleration, and t is the time of fall. This concept is crucial for determining how far the lead ball falls before hitting the water.
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Constant Velocity in Fluids

Once the lead ball enters the water, it sinks with a constant velocity, meaning it no longer accelerates. This occurs when the forces acting on it, such as buoyancy and drag, balance out the weight of the ball. Understanding this concept is essential for calculating the time it takes for the ball to reach the bottom of the lake after it has entered the water.
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Total Distance Calculation

To find the total depth of the lake, one must sum the distance the ball falls through the air and the distance it sinks in the water. The total time of 3.0 seconds is divided into the time of free fall and the time spent sinking, allowing for the calculation of both distances. This concept integrates the previous ideas to provide a complete answer to the question.
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