MCAT Physics Question 6: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 6
6. A firefighter jumps horizontally from a burning building with an initial speed of 
At what time is the angle between his velocity and acceleration vectors the greatest?
- A. The instant he jumps
- B. When he reaches terminal velocity
- C. Halfway through his fall
- D. Right before he lands on the ground
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The firefighter's acceleration is always directed downward, whereas his velocity starts out horizontal and gradually rotates downwards as his downward velocity increases. Therefore, as time progresses, the angle between his velocity and acceleration decreases, which means that the maximum angle occurs at the instant he jumps.