Question

Use the Pythagorean theorem to answer the following question. A ping-pong ball is shot straight north from a popgun at 4.0 m/s. The wind is blowing to the west at 3.0 m/s. What is the actual velocity of the ping-pong ball?

Answer 1

Answer : The actual velocity of the ping-pong ball is, 5 m/s

Explanation :

Using Pythagorean theorem :

$(Hypotenuse)^2=(Base)^2+(Perpendicular)^2$

The diagram is shown below.

From the diagram we conclude that,

AB = 4 m/s

BC = 3 m/s

AC = ?

$(AC)^2=(BC)^2+(AB)^2$

Now put all the given values in this formula, we get

$(AC)^2=(3)^2+(4)^2$

$AC=5m/s$

Therefore, the actual velocity of the ping-pong ball is, 5 m/s

Answer 2

Resultant is 5 m/s using the Pythagorean theorem<span />