Question

A student tosses a ball horizontally from a balcony to a friend 3.8 meters down below them. How long does the ball take to reach their friend?

Answer 1

Answer:

The time it takes the ball to fall 3.8 meters to friend below is approximately 0.88 seconds

Explanation:

The height from which the student tosses the ball to a friend, h = 3.8 meters above the friend

The direction in which the student tosses the ball = The horizontal direction

Given that the ball is tossed in the horizontal direction, and not the vertical direction, the initial vertical component of the velocity of the ball = 0

The equation of the vertical motion of the ball can therefore, be represented by the free fall equation as follows;

h = 1/2 × g × t²

Where;

g = The acceleration due gravity of the ball = 9.81 m/s²

t = The time of motion to cover height, h

Then height is already given as h = 3.8 m

Substituting gives;

3.8 = 1/2 × 9.81 × t²

t² = 3.8/(1/2 × 9.81) ≈ 0.775 s²

∴ t = √0.775 ≈ 0.88 seconds

The time it takes the ball to fall 3.8 meters to friend below is t ≈ 0.88 seconds.