Question

2) Woody vs Weasly. In several rare (yet entertaining) cases, animals have been documented “piggybacking” others. A fairly famous case from several years ago involved a weasel riding on a woodpecker.  Say that in a similar incident, an unfortunate woodpecker (“Woody”) is being attacked by such a weasel (“Weasly”). To shake her attacker, Woody flies directly upwards at 20 km/h (woodpeckers can fly slightly faster than this when flapping their wings, but this particular woodpecker is a little weighted down at the moment). Weasly, unable to hold on, is released from Woody’s back at the instant at which they are both 3.20 m above the ground. Assume no air resistance for both parts below. a) Find the position and velocity of Weasly at 0.40 s after its release. Assume that ? = 0 is at the ground. (Hint: Think carefully about what Weasly’s initial velocity is upon release.) (5) b) How much time does it take for Weasly to strike the ground after he is released, and at what speed is he travelling when he lands (rather painfully, but likely not fatally)? (5)

Answer 1