Question

A ball is thrown nearly vertically upward from a point near the cornice of a tall building. It just misses the cornice on the way down, and passes a point 160 ft below its starting point 5 sec after it leaves the thrower’s hand. (a) What was the initial velocity of the ball? (b) How high did it rise above its starting point? (c) What was the magnitude of its velocity as it passed a point 64 ft below the starting point?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) 48.5 ft/s

b) 36.5 ft

c) -80.3 ft/s

Explanation:

a)

The equation of motion of the ball is :

y(t) = -16.1 ft/s^2 * t^2 + Vo*t

Where Vo is the initial velocity

If y(5s) = - 160 ft:

-160 ft = -16.1 ft/s^2 * (5 s)^2 + Vo*(5s)

Solving for Vo

Vo  = (16.1*25- 160) ft / 5s = 48.5 ft/s

b)

To answer this question we must first know when the velocity became zero, at this time is when the ball was at its highest point.

v(t) = -32.2 ft/s^2 * t + Vo

t = Vo/32.2ft/s^2 = 1.5 s

And now, the highest point which the ball reached is given by:

y(1.5s) = -16.1 ft/s^2 * (1.5)^2 + Vo*(1.5s)

y(1.5s) = 36.52 ft

c)

We now need the time at which y(t') = -64 ft

-64 = -16.1*t'^2 + 48.5*t'

By means of the quadratic formula, we find that

t' = 4.00498 s ≈ 4 s

And the velocity at t = 4s is:

v(4s) = -32.2 ft/s^2 * 4s +48.5 ft/s = -80.3 ft/s