Motion of a jumper - Find the mass

[Jess048]

A high jumper falling at 3.9 m/s, lands on a foam pit and comes to rest, compressing the pit a distance of 0.43 m. If the pit is able to exert an average force of -1100 N on the high jumper in breaking the fall, what is the jumper's mass?

I don't know where to begin so anything can help!

 

[Doc Al]

Hint: What was the average acceleration of the jumper during his interaction with the foam?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Remember that with acceleration -a and initial speed v₀, the speed at time t is v(t)= -at+ v₀ and the distance moved is x(t)= -(a/2)t²+ v₀t. To come to a halt, v(t)= 0= -at+ v₀ so requires t= v₀/a second. In that time, according to the problem, the jumper moved -(a/2)t²+ v₀= 0.43 m. Plug the value of t (as a function of a- you are given v₀) into that and solve for a. The solve ma= F(which is given) for m.

 

[Doc Al]

In applying F = ma, be sure to use the net force on the jumper. (Don't neglect his weight.)