6. A diver jumps off a diving board 12 feet above the water with an initial velocity of 20 feet per second and
   performs two flips. If he wishes to enter the water with as small a splash as possible, he must complete his
   flips and straighten his body before he is 4 feet above the water. Approximately how much time does the
   diver have to complete his two flips if he wishes to straighten his body in time to make as small a splash
   as possible?

To tackle this, we can use the kinematic equation for the diver’s motion, which is given by . Here, feet is the initial height, feet/second is the initial velocity, and feet/second² is the acceleration due to gravity. We want to determine how long it takes for the diver to reach the 4-foot height. Setting and solving the quadratic equation gives approximately 1.5 seconds. Since the diver is completing two flips, he must time his flips efficiently within this frame.

In practice, divers often train their timing and body positioning to maximize their dive’s efficiency. These skills are essential in competitive diving, where scoring can hinge on the dive’s entry and the splash. The less splash created upon entry, the better the score will be! Divers train not just physically but also mentally, simulating flips and turns. This mindfulness allows them to enhance their body awareness and timing in real dives.