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Ch 05: Applying Newton's Laws
Chapter 5, Problem 5.21c

When jumping straight up from a crouched position, an average person can reach a maximum height of about 60 cm. During the jump, the person's body from the knees up typically rises a distance of around 50 cm. To keep the calculations simple and yet get a reasonable result, assume that the entire body rises this much during the jump. (c) In terms of this jumper's weight w, what force does the ground exert on him or her during the jump?

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Identify the forces acting on the jumper during the jump. The forces include the gravitational force (weight) acting downward and the normal force exerted by the ground acting upward.
Use the work-energy principle to relate the work done by the ground to the change in kinetic energy. The work done by the ground is equal to the force exerted by the ground times the distance over which it acts.
Express the work done by the ground as: \( W = F_{\text{ground}} \times d \), where \( F_{\text{ground}} \) is the force exerted by the ground and \( d \) is the distance the body rises (50 cm or 0.5 m).
Relate the work done to the change in gravitational potential energy at the maximum height. The change in potential energy is given by \( \Delta U = mgh \), where \( m \) is the mass of the jumper, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \( h \) is the maximum height (60 cm or 0.6 m).
Set the work done by the ground equal to the change in potential energy to solve for the force: \( F_{\text{ground}} \times d = mgh \). Rearrange to find \( F_{\text{ground}} = \frac{mgh}{d} \). Since weight \( w = mg \), substitute to get \( F_{\text{ground}} = \frac{wh}{d} \).

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Key Concepts

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

Newton's Second Law of Motion

Newton's Second Law states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). In the context of the jump, this law helps determine the net force exerted by the ground, considering the jumper's weight and the acceleration needed to reach the maximum height.
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Gravitational Force

Gravitational force is the force of attraction between the Earth and the jumper, calculated as the product of the jumper's mass and the acceleration due to gravity (w = mg). This force acts downward, and understanding it is crucial for calculating the net force exerted by the ground during the jump.
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Kinematics of Vertical Motion

Kinematics involves the study of motion without considering forces. For vertical jumps, it includes analyzing the initial velocity, maximum height, and acceleration. Using kinematic equations, one can determine the acceleration required to reach a height of 60 cm, which is essential for calculating the force exerted by the ground.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A 550-N physics student stands on a bathroom scale in an elevator that is supported by a cable. The combined mass of student plus elevator is 850 kg. As the elevator starts moving, the scale reads 450 N. (a) Find the acceleration of the elevator (magnitude and direction).

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Textbook Question

When jumping straight up from a crouched position, an average person can reach a maximum height of about 60 cm. During the jump, the person's body from the knees up typically rises a distance of around 50 cm. To keep the calculations simple and yet get a reasonable result, assume that the entire body rises this much during the jump. (a) With what initial speed does the person leave the ground to reach a height of 60 cm?

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Textbook Question

When jumping straight up from a crouched position, an average person can reach a maximum height of about 60 cm. During the jump, the person's body from the knees up typically rises a distance of around 50 cm. To keep the calculations simple and yet get a reasonable result, assume that the entire body rises this much during the jump. (b) Draw a free-body diagram of the person during the jump.

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Textbook Question

A 2.00-kg box is moving to the right with speed 9.00 m/s on a horizontal, frictionless surface. At t = 0 a horizontal force is applied to the box. The force is directed to the left and has magnitude F(t) = (6.00 N/s2)t2. (a) What distance does the box move from its position at t = 0 before its speed is reduced to zero?

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Textbook Question

A 5.00-kg crate is suspended from the end of a short vertical rope of negligible mass. An upward force F(t) is applied to the end of the rope, and the height of the crate above its initial position is given by y(t) = (2.80 m/s)t + (0.610 m/s3)t3. What is the magnitude of F when t = 4.00 s?

Textbook Question

In a laboratory experiment on friction, a 135-N block resting on a rough horizontal table is pulled by a horizontal wire. The pull gradually increases until the block begins to move and continues to increase thereafter. Figure E5.26 shows a graph of the friction force on this block as a function of the pull. (a) Identify the regions of the graph where static friction and kinetic friction occur.

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