Problem:

A dolphin in an aquatic show jumps straight up out of the water at a velocity of 13.0 m/s.(a) List the knowns in this problem. (b) How high does his body rise above the water? To solve this part, first note that the final velocity is now a known and identify its value. Then identify the unknown, and discuss how you chose the appropriate equation to solve for it. After choosing the equation, show your steps in solving for the unknown, checking units, and discuss whether the answer is reasonable.(c) How long is the dolphin in the air? Neglect any effects due to his size or orientation.

Solution:

We will treat the downward direction as negative, and the upward direction as positive.

Part A

The known values are:a=-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2; v_0=13\:\text{m/s}; and y_0=0\:\text{m}.

Part B

At the highest point of the jump, the velocity is equal to 0. For this part, we will treat the initial position at the moment it jumps out of the water, and the final position at the highest point. Therefore, v_f=0 \text{m/s}.

The unknown is the final position, y_f. We are going to use the formula

\left(v_f\right)^2=\left(v_0\right)^2+2a\Delta y \\
\text{or} \\
\left(v_f\right)^2=\left(v_0\right)^2+2a\left(y_f-y_0\right)

Solving for y_f in terms of the other variables:

y_f=\frac{\left(v_f\right)^2-\left(v_0\right)^2}{2a}+y_0

Substituting the given values:

\begin{align*}
y_f & =\frac{\left(v_f\right)^2-\left(v_0\right)^2}{2a}+y_0 \\
y_f & =\frac{\left(0\:\text{m/s}\right)^2-\left(13.0\:\text{m/s}\right)^2}{2\left(-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2\right)}+0\:\text{m} \\
y_f & =8.62\:\text{m}+0\:\text{m} \\
y_f & =8.62\:\text{m} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}

This value is reasonable since dolphins can jump several meters high out of the water. Usually, a dolphin measures about 2 meters and they can jump several times their length.

Part C

The unknown is time, \Delta t. We are going to use the formula

v_f=v_0+at

Solving for time, \Delta t in terms of the other variables:

t=\frac{v_f-v_0}{a}

Substituting the given values:

\begin{align*}
t & =\frac{v_f-v_0}{a} \\
t & =\frac{0\:\text{m/s}-13.0\:\text{m/s}}{-9.80\:\text{m/s}^2} \\
t &=1.3625\:\text{s}
\end{align*}

This value is the time it takes the dolphin to reach the highest point. Since the time it takes to reach this point is equal to the time it takes to go back to the water, the time it is in the air is:

\begin{align*}
t_{air} & =2\times t \\
t_{air}&=2\times 1.3625\:\text{s} \\
t_{air}&=2.65\:\text{s} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}