Activity 8.14.1. The Stunt Car.
A stationary stunt car has an ejector seat that rests on a compressed vertical spring. When the spring is released, the seat with its passenger is launched out of the car and into the air.
Explain why you might want to include the Earth and the spring in your system.
Consider three instants in time: (1) just before the seat is released, (2) when the spring is at equilibrium, and (3) the person reaches maximum height.
Write a qualitative description of how the energy of the system transforms through these three instants.
Sketch the car and the ejector seat at each instant.
Write an equation for each energy at each instant.
Use them to determine the maximum height of the passenger and the speed as the passenger leaves the ejector seat.
Make sense of your answers!
