I was having trouble with this problem, and problems like it: A 3.2 kg pelican, with a 1.73 kg fish in its mouth, is flying 1.52 m/s at a height of 40 m when the fish wiggles free and fall back toward the ocean. How fast is the fish moving when it hits the water?

28.1 m/s

Explanation:

= Initial velocity of the fish = 1.52 m/s

y = Height of the bird = 40 m

= Acceleration in y axis =

= Initial velocity in y axis = 0

The final velocity in x direction will remain the same as the initial velocity as there is no acceleration in the x direction

Resultant velocity is given by

The fish is moving at a velocity of 28.1 m/s when it hits the water.

they should be similar or the same