Cliff Diving Safety: Is it Safe to Jump Off a 5-Meter High Cliff?

When considering cliff diving safety, it is essential to calculate if the diver's velocity upon impact will exceed the maximum safe limit. In this scenario, Sally wants to cliff dive off a 5-meter high cliff with an initial velocity of 0 m/s.

To determine if it is safe for Sally to make the jump, we can utilize the physics equation for free fall under gravity: v = √(2gh), where v represents the final velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s^2), and h denotes the height of the cliff.

Calculating Sally's velocity upon impact: v = √(2 × 9.81 m/s^2 × 5 m) = √(98.1 m^2/s^2) ≈ 9.9 m/s.

Since Sally's velocity upon impact would be around 9.9 m/s, significantly lower than the maximum safe impact velocity of 42 m/s, it is indeed safe for her to jump off the 5-meter high cliff with an initial velocity of 0 m/s. Therefore, Sally will not reach the maximum safe velocity upon impact, ensuring a safe cliff diving experience.

It is crucial to perform such calculations to guarantee the safety of the cliff diver and prevent any potential injuries or accidents. By understanding the physics behind free fall and velocity calculations, individuals like Sally can enjoy the thrill of cliff diving while staying within safe limits.