Question

1. Answer Questions 1(a) through 1(c) for full credit. Show all necessary work.

Answer 1

What is the angle of elevation θ that is required for a hit ball to just clear the center field fence when it is hit 2 ft above the ground? Show all of your work and round your answer to the nearest hundredth of a degree.

Distance from Home plate to the center field fence: 425 ft

Height of the center field fence: 8 ft

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ANSWER:

The fence height = 8ft

The fence height takes 2 ft from the ground and doesn't count towards the angle.

Therefore subtract the difference = 8-2 = 6ft

The fence height from the 2ft to the fence top = 6ft

Angle of elevation (θ):

Tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent

Adjacent = Distance from Home plate to the center field fence = 425 ft

Opposite = 6ft

• Tan(θ) = 6/425
• Tan(θ) = 0.0141
• θ = arctan(0.0141)
• arctan = inverse of tangent = tan-¹
• θ = 0.8078°
• Angle of elevation (θ) = 0.81°