Question

A golfer tees off and hits a golf ball at a speed of 31 m/s and at an angle of 35 degrees. What is the horizontal velocity component of the ball? Round the answer to the nearest tenth of a m/s.

Answer 1

To calculate the horizontal velocity component, use the cosine identity. where cos A = a / h
where A is the angle the golfer hits the ball
a is the horizontal component velocity
h is the speed the golfer hits the ball

so a = h cos A
a = 31 cos 35
a = 25.4 m/s