Finding Velocity of a Dropped Shellfish

[Aljazera]

Homework Statement

5. A sea hawk flying horizontally at a speed of 15 m/s drops a shellfish from a height of 30 m. At what speed does the shellfish hit the ground? Neglect air resistance (drag).

Homework Equations

vf2 = vi2 + 2ah

The Attempt at a Solution

I got 24.3 which was one of the answers and when i emailed the professor he said that that was the vertical velocity and I need to look for total velocity...well the answer is 28.5 m/s and I don't understand how that was arrived.

 

[rock.freak667]

You could use conservation of energy here I believe.


Also, the horizontal velocity would be the same throughout.