The Physics Behind Cliff Diving: Calculating Divers Speed at Acapulco

The cliff divers at Acapulco, Mexico, jump off a cliff 28.7 m above the ocean. How fast are the divers going when they hit the water?

The divers going when they hit the water at 23.1m/s speed

How does air resistance function? Air exerts a force known as air resistance. When an object is travelling through the air, the force works in the opposite direction. While a sports vehicle with a streamlined design will encounter reduced air resistance and experience less drag, the automobile will be able to move more quickly than a truck with a flat front.

The law of conservation of energy allows us to calculate the speed of the divers when they strike the ground because their potential energy at a height of 28.7 meters above the ground is transformed into kinetic energy at ground level.

Potential Energy = Kinetic Energy

PE = KE
mgh = 1/2mv²
gh = 1/2v²
g = 9.81m/s²
v = √(2gh)
v = √(2 × 9.81 × 28.7)
v = 23.1 m/s

How does potential energy transform into kinetic energy for the cliff divers in Acapulco?

The potential energy of the cliff divers when they are at a height of 28.7 meters above the ground is converted into kinetic energy as they dive towards the water. This transformation occurs due to the law of conservation of energy, where the total energy of the system (potential and kinetic) remains constant throughout the dive. As the divers fall, their potential energy decreases while their kinetic energy increases, leading to a calculation of their speed upon hitting the water.