One of the great dangers to mountain climbers is an avalanche, in which a large mass of snow and ice breaks loose and goes on an essentially frictionless "ride" down a mountainside on a cushion of compressed air. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2. avalanche µ = 0 347 m 27.5 ◦ If you were on a 27.5 ◦ slope and an avalanche started 347 m up the slope, how much time would you have to get out of the way?

Question

Physics

Courtney Dickson

11 July, 22:41

One of the great dangers to mountain climbers is an avalanche, in which a large mass of snow and ice breaks loose and goes on an essentially frictionless "ride" down a mountainside on a cushion of compressed air. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2. avalanche µ = 0 347 m 27.5 ◦ If you were on a 27.5 ◦ slope and an avalanche started 347 m up the slope, how much time would you have to get out of the way?

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Answers (1)

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Chris Stanton · Answer 1

The acceleration of an object down a slope (neglecting friction, µ = 0) is:

a = g * sin θ

Where,

g is the acceleration due to gravity and θ is the angle of the slope.

a = (9.8 * sin (21.5º)

= 3.592 m/s²

Using equations of motion,

S = ut + 1/2at²

Since, u = 0,

S = 1/2at²

347 = 1/2 * (3.592) t²

t² = 193.21

= sqrt (193.21)

= 13.9 s.