Calculating Coyote's Speed at Each Second of Fall

[flower555]

Homework Statement

2) Problem : You must believe that the coyote is falling at one specific speed at any time during his fall to the ground. Your task here is to find the coyote’s exact speed at each full second of his fall.
Once we know this information you can develop a rule that will allow you to find the coyote;d exact speed at any time.
What we know so far.
At t=0 the coyote’s exact downward speed is zero. At t=5 seconds his exact speed is 160 ft/sec
a) Calculate the coyote’s exact speed at 3 seconds. Start by calculating the average speed of the coyote from 2.5 seconds to 3 seconds. What is the average speed from 2.8 seconds to 3 seconds? From 2.9 seconds to 3 seconds? From 2.99 seconds to 3 seconds? At some point you will see what number these average speeds are approaching. How many of these average speeds must you calculate? As many as needed for you to see what the exact speed is at 3 seconds.
b) Calculate the coyote’s exact speed at 1 second.
c) Calculate the coyote’s exact speed at 2 and 4 seconds.
4. Complete the following table:
Time in seconds height above the ground exact speed (ft/sec)
0 400 0
1
2
3
4
5 0 160

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[lippyka]

a) The average speed of the coyote from 2.5 seconds to 3 seconds is 120 ft/sec. The average speed from 2.8 seconds to 3 seconds is 111.11 ft/sec. The average speed from 2.9 seconds to 3 seconds is 106.67 ft/sec. The average speeds are approaching 106.67 ft/sec, so this is the exact speed of the coyote at three seconds. b) The exact speed of the coyote at one second is 80 ft/sec. c) The exact speed of the coyote at two seconds is 100 ft/sec and the exact speed of the coyote at four seconds is 140 ft/sec. Time in seconds height above the ground exact speed (ft/sec)0 400 01 400 802 400 1003 400 106.674 400 1405 0 160