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b) How long does the ball take to reach its maximum height? Assuming g =10 m/s/s/.
Don't forget that the horizontal and vertical velocities are independent. Height is determined by the
vertical velocity.
Gravity acts to slow the ball at a rate of 10 m/s/s. So every second the ball's velocity decreases by
10m/s. It will take 2.4 seconds for the ball to reach its maximum height.
c) What is the maximum height reached by the ball?
To answer this question we use our straight line motion formulae. Click to revise.
Distance is given by the formula d = (1/2)at2 . Where d = distance, a =10 m/s/s/ and t = time.
d = (1/2)10 (2.4)2 = 28.8 m
d) How far does the ball land from the thrower?
The horizontal distance is determined by the horizontal velocity component.
We use the formula d = vt, where v = velocity, t = time.
The ball takes 2.4 seconds to reach its maximum height and a further 2.4 seconds to reach the
ground. It is in the air for 4.8 seconds.
So d = 10 m/s X 4.8 = 48 m
e) What is the magnitude of the velocity of the ball at "A"?
At the top of its path vertical velocity has shrunk to zero while the horizontal velocity remains
constant throughout the entire flight. The velocity is 10 m/s.
A ball is thrown skywards with an initial
vertical velocity of 40 m/s and an initial
horizontal velocity of 8 m/s as shown on the
right. Ignore air resistance
b) How long does the ball take to reach its maximum height?
The decelerates at 10 m/s/s. So every second the ball will slow down by 10 m/s. Therefore it will
take 4 seconds for the ball to reach maximum height.
f) At what point along its path does the ball have minimum speed?
At its maximum height the vertical velocity shrinks to zero leaving only the horizontal velocity which
remains constant throughout the flight. At this point ("A") the ball has a velocity of only 8 m/s.
A ball is hurled horizontally off the table with a velocity of 20m/s while another identical
ball is allowed to fall, from the top of the table to the floor. Which ball strikes the ground
first? ANSWER: Both balls have a vertical acceleration component of 10m/s/s (assuming
g =10 m/s/s). Since vertical motion is independent of horizontal motion both balls will hit
the ground at the same time.
A cannon ball is fired skywards with an unknown initial vertical velocity and an initial
horizontal velocity of 4 m/s as shown on the right. Ignore air resistance
g=10 m/s/s
a) How long does the ball take to reach its maximum height? (use the formula
d =(1/2)gt2
b) What is the initial vertical velocity of the ball?
c) What is the velocity of the ball just before impact at "B"?
d) How far is point "B" from the launch site?