Throw Ball: Max Height & Velocity = 0

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    Kinematic
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the kinematic behavior of a ball thrown upwards, specifically focusing on the moment it reaches its maximum height and the implications of its velocity being zero at that point. The conversation touches on concepts of instantaneous velocity, measurement precision, and the nature of time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that when a ball reaches its highest point, its velocity becomes zero instantaneously, suggesting that the duration of zero speed is effectively zero.
  • Another participant argues that the velocity of the ball is always changing and never remains constant, indicating that it only passes through the value of zero at a specific moment.
  • A different viewpoint introduces the idea that if time can be measured with infinite precision, then the concept of something being instantaneous might not be feasible.
  • Another participant challenges the notion of measuring time with infinite precision, suggesting that the existence of infinite numbers could imply the possibility of instantaneous events, referencing non-standard analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of instantaneous velocity and the implications of measuring time. There is no consensus on whether instantaneous events can exist or how to interpret the concept of zero velocity at the peak of the ball's trajectory.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in the discussion include assumptions about the idealized conditions of motion, the precision of measurements, and the philosophical implications of time and instantaneous events, which remain unresolved.

jlorino
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in a kinematic equation when you throw a ball up and it reaches its highest point its velocity becomes zero how long is it zero
 
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In the idealized description of the trajectory, its speed is zero instantaneously, i.e. the duration of zero speed is itself zero! Ultimately, of course, your measurements have limited resolution and air turbulence will contribute to uncertainty.
 
or more simply, the velocity is always changing, it is never constant, so the velocity never stays at any value. It passes through the value zero at a certain time,but it does not stay that value.
 
in my thinking that there are infinite numbers so you could measure time presicely infinite so something being instantaneous would not be possible
 
jlorino said:
in my thinking that there are infinite numbers so you could measure time presicely infinite so something being instantaneous would not be possible

"measure time precisely infinite" makes no sense. In any case, I would think "there are infinite numbers" would mean that you CAN have something "instantaneous"- that's basically what non-standard analysis is about.
 

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