Free Fall on Different Worlds Objects in freefall on the earth have acceleration ay=−9.8m/s2ay=−9.8m/s2. On themoon, free fall acceleration is approximately 1/61/6 of theacceleration on earth. This changes the scale of problems involvingfree fall. For instance, suppose you jump straight upward, leavingthe ground with velocity vivi and then steadily slowing untilreaching zero velocity at your highest point. Because your initialvelocity is determined mostly by the strength of your leg muscles,we can assume your initial velocity would be the same on the moon.But considering the equation h=v22gh=v22g we can see that, with asmaller free-fall acceleration, your maximum height would begreater. The following questions ask you to think about how certainathletic feats might be performed in this reduced-gravityenvironment.
A) If an astronaut can jump straight up to a height of 0.6 mm onearth, how high could he jump on the moon?
B) On the earth, an astronaut can safely jump to the ground froma height of 1.2 mm ; her velocity when reaching the ground is slowenough to not cause injury. From what height could the astronautsafely jump to the ground on the moon?
C) On the earth, an astronaut throws a ball straight upward; itstays in the air for a total time of 2.3 ss before reaching theground again. If a ball were to be thrown upward with the sameinitial speed on the moon, how much time would pass before it hitthe ground?
