The cheetah is the fastest land animal, able to reach quickly a maximum speed of 31.0 m/s. But it is able to maintain this speed for only about 10.0 s. Suppose that the cheetah stalks a prey that has a maximum speed of 25.0 m/s, but is able to maintain this speed for much longer than 10.0 s. If it is to catch its prey, what is the maximum distance the cheetah can be from the prey when the chase begins?

60 m

Explanation:

Given that a cheetah is able to reach quickly a maximum speed of 31.0 m/s. But it is able to maintain this speed for only about 10.0 s.

The distance = speed × time

The distance = 31 × 10

The distance = 310 m

Suppose that the cheetah stalks a prey that has a maximum speed of 25.0 m/s, but is able to maintain this speed for much longer than 10.0 s.

The prey distance = 25 × 10

Distance = 250m

If it is to catch its prey, the maximum distance the cheetah can be from the prey when the chase begins must be:

Maximum distance = 310 - 250

Maximum distance = 60 m

air exerts forces on falling objects near earth’s surface.

explanation:

the term 'free falls' refer to object that are falling towards the earth, in a situation in which gravity is the only force acting on the object.

for an object in free fall, the acceleration is constant (g, the gravitational acceleration), and so the velocity of the object constantly increases.

for objects near earth's surface, there is always another force acting on the object: the resistance due to the air. this force is opposed to the direction of fall of the object, and it is proportional to the velocity of the object, so as the object falls down, this force increases up to a point when it balances the force of gravity, and the object continues its motion at constant velocity (called terminal velocity). since in this case gravity is not the only force acting on the object, we are not in a situation of free fall.