Projectile Motion
The Kinematic equations can be applied to a skier while in free fall. When it comes to the launching velocity, how far you travel, and the time of air time you achieve.
The skier is considered a projectile when he flies off the cliff because the only force acting on the skier is gravity.
Lets say a skier is about to fall off a cliff. His initial velocity is 15 m/s and the height off the cliff is 20m. How far will he travel?
-first off we need to calculate the time he will be in the air and this works with Y=y0+v0t+1/2a(t^2)
The initial velocity and height are zero, y0 and v0 = 0
Thus the time is equal to (2y/a)^1/2 which is (2(20m)/9.81m/s^2))^1/2
t=2.01 seconds
-Secondly plug t into the same eqation but this time X0 and 1/2at^2 equal zero. So X=V0t therefore 15m/s(2.01s)= 30m
He will travel 30 meters