The Thrilling Physics of Cliff Diving

Cliff diving is an exhilarating sport that combines the beauty of nature with the laws of physics. When a diver leaps off a cliff, they must carefully calculate their speed and trajectory to ensure a safe landing in the water below.

In the scenario provided, the cliff diver must cover a horizontal distance of 17.8 meters to land safely. By applying the principles of Projectile Motion in Physics, we can determine the initial speed required for the diver to achieve this feat.

Firstly, let's calculate the time it will take for the diver to hit the water. Using the equation of motion, h = 0.5 * g * t^2, where h is the height of the cliff and g is the gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s^2), we find that it will take approximately 3.03 seconds for the diver to reach the water.

Next, we determine the necessary horizontal velocity (running speed) using the equation Range (R) = v*t. With a range of 17.8 meters and a time of 3.03 seconds, we calculate that the diver must be running at a speed of approximately 5.9 m/s to land safely.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that the cliff diver must be running at a speed of 5.9 m/s before jumping off the cliff to land 17.8 meters from the edge and ensure a thrilling but safe dive.