A clam of mass 0.12 kg dropped by a seagull takes 3.0 s to hit the ground. [Neglect friction.]

What is the velocity of the clam when it strikes the ground? [Show all work, including the equation and substitution with units.]

- - The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s².

So if there's no air resistance, the speed of a falling object

always increases by 9.8 m/s for every second it falls.

Speed = (original speed) + (gravity x falling time)

- - If it has no vertical speed when it started, then at the end

of 3 seconds, its speed is

= (0) + (9.8 m/s² x 3 sec)

Velocity = 29.4 m/s downward.