An industrious beaver manages to chew through the base of a wooden tree trunk 18 m tall, causing it to fall over. If the base of the trunk does not slide while it falls over, how fast is the other end of the trunk moving right before it hits the ground

Vf = 18.78 m/s

Explanation:

As, the block does not trunk does not slide while falling. hence, we can use third equation of motion to find its velocity before it hits the ground:

2gh = Vf² - Vi²

where,

g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²

h = Height of Trunk = 18 m

Vf = Velocity of trunk just before it hits the ground = ?

Vi = Initial Velocity of the trunk = 0 m/s

Therefore, using these values in the equation, we get:

(2)(9.8 m/s²)(18 m) = Vf² - (0 m/s)²

Vf = √(352.8 m²/s²)

Vf = 18.78 m/s

thermal energy is the answer