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Ch 07: Newton's Third Law
Chapter 7, Problem 8

A motorcycle daredevil plans to ride up a 2.0-m-high, 20° ramp, sail across a 10-m-wide pool filled with hungry crocodiles, and land at ground level on the other side. He has done this stunt many times and approaches it with confidence. Unfortunately, the motorcycle engine dies just as he starts up the ramp. He is going 11 m/s at that instant, and the rolling friction of his rubber tires (coefficient 0.02) is not negligible. Does he survive, or does he become crocodile food? Justify your answer by calculating the distance he travels through the air after leaving the end of the ramp.

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Key Concepts

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

Kinematics

Kinematics is the branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion. It involves concepts such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration. In this scenario, understanding the initial velocity of the motorcycle and the angle of the ramp is crucial for calculating the trajectory and distance traveled through the air after leaving the ramp.
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Projectile Motion

Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is launched into the air and is subject to gravitational force. It can be analyzed by breaking it into horizontal and vertical components. For the daredevil, the initial speed and angle of launch will determine how far he travels horizontally before hitting the ground, which is essential for assessing whether he lands safely or falls into the pool.
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Energy Conservation

The principle of energy conservation states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In this context, the motorcycle's kinetic energy at the start and the potential energy gained while ascending the ramp must be considered. The energy lost due to rolling friction also plays a role in determining how much kinetic energy remains for the jump across the pool.
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