While skiing, Ellen encounters a ledge that sends her flying horizontally at a rate of 12 m/s. How far away will she land if the ledge is 7 meters high? ... ?

In this problem, we must first calculate that Ellen will be on air. Using the equation of a free-falling body,

y = - g/2*t^2 + y0

When she hits the ground, y = 0. With y0 = 7 and g = 9.80,

0 = - 4.90*t^2 + 7

t = 1.20 s

Thus, her horizontal displacement is then

x = vt

x = (12) (1.20)

x = 14.3 m