Question

The best rebounders in basketball have a vertical leap (that is, the vertical movement of a fixed point on their body) of about 100 cm . a) What is their initial "launch" speed off the ground?
b)How long are they in the air?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) 4.45 m/s

b) 0.9 seconds

Explanation:

t = Time taken

u = Initial velocity

v = Final velocity

s = Displacement

a = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s²

$v^2-u^2=2as\\\Rightarrow -u^2=2as-v^2\\\Rightarrow u=\sqrt{v^2-2as}\\\Rightarrow u=\sqrt{0^2-2\times -9.81\times 1}\\\Rightarrow u=4.45\ m/s$

a) The vertical speed when the player leaves the ground is 4.45 m/s

$v=u+at\\\Rightarrow t=\frac{v-u}{a}\\\Rightarrow t=\frac{0-4.45}{-9.81}\\\Rightarrow t=0.45\ s$

Time taken to reach the maximum height is 0.45 seconds

$s=ut+\frac{1}{2}at^2\\\Rightarrow 1=0t+\frac{1}{2}\times 9.81\times t^2\\\Rightarrow t=\sqrt{\frac{1\times 2}{9.81}}\\\Rightarrow t=0.45\ s$

Time taken to reach the ground from the maximum height is 0.45 seconds

b) Time the player stayed in the air is 0.45+0.45 = 0.9 seconds