Can You Calculate the Splash Radius of a Rock Dropped from a Bridge?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the splash radius of a rock dropped from a bridge into water, focusing on the height of the bridge, the mass of the rock, and its initial velocity. The problem is situated within the context of kinematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relevance of the rock's size and shape, questioning how these factors might influence the splash radius. There is an attempt to clarify what is meant by "size" in relation to the rock.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the parameters involved and considering different aspects of the rock's characteristics. Some guidance has been offered regarding the importance of the rock's shape and size, but no consensus has been reached on how to approach the calculation.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of kinematics equations, but participants express uncertainty about the ability to determine the splash radius based on the given parameters. Additionally, external resources have been shared, indicating a search for further information.

Entr0py
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Homework Statement


I was wondering that, if you are standing above a bridge with a height h and throw a rock in your hand with mass m and initial velocity v naught of 0, could you calculate how big of a splash said rock makes when it hits the water?

Homework Equations



Not sure, I'm guessing kinematics equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Well maybe I could plug in values for mass, initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration. But I don't know if it's possible to find how big (what is the radius) of the splash the rock creates.
 
Last edited:
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Do you think the size and shape of the rock might be relevant?
 
Of course, and thanks for pointing that out. Let's say the rock is a perfect sphere and what do you mean by its size? Its mass, length, volume?
 
Entr0py said:
Of course, and thanks for pointing that out. Let's say the rock is a perfect sphere and what do you mean by its size? Its mass, length, volume?

By "size" I mean how big it is.
 
Let's say it's x meters tall.
 

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