Question

A ball is thrown vertically into the air with a initial velocity of 20 m/s. Find the maximum height of the ball and find the amount of time needed to reach the maximum height.

Answer 1

Answer:

The maximum height of the ball is 20 m. The ball needs 2 s to reach that height.

Explanation:

The equation that describes the height and velocity of the ball are the following:

y = y0 + v0 · t + 1/2 · g · t²

v = v0 + g · t

Where:

y = height of the ball at time t

y0 = initial height

v0 = initial velocity

t = time

g = acceleration

v = velocity at time t

When the ball is at its maximum height, its velocity is 0, then, using the equation of the velocity, we can calculate the time at which the ball is at its max-height.

v = v0 + g · t

0 = 20 m/s - 9.8 m/s² · t

-20 m/s / -9.8 m/s² = t

t = 2.0 s

Then, the ball reaches its maximum height in 2 s.

Now,  we can calculate the max-height obtaining the position at time t = 2.0 s:

y = y0 + v0 · t + 1/2 · g · t²

y = 0 m + 20 m/s · 2 s - 1/2 · 9,8 m/s² · (2 s)²

y = 20 m