Average acceleration of a falling ball on contact with floor

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the average acceleration of a falling ball upon contact with the floor. A ball dropped from a height of 10 meters rebounds to a height of 2.5 meters, with a contact duration of 0.01 seconds. The correct formula for average acceleration is α = (v₂ + v₁) / t, where v₁ and v₂ are the velocities before and after the bounce, respectively. The accurate calculation yields an average acceleration of 2100 m/s², contrasting with the incorrect result of 1581.14 m/s² initially obtained by the user.

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Homework Statement


A ball falls on the surface from 10m height and rebounds to 2.5m.If duration of contact with floor is 0.01 sec,then average acceleration during contact is-
g = 10m/s^2

Homework Equations


[tex] \alpha = \frac{v_2 + v_1}{t}[/tex]


The Attempt at a Solution


Now here
[tex] v_{1} = \sqrt{2gh_{1}[/tex]

[tex] v_{1} = \sqrt{50}[/tex]

and

[tex] v_{2} = \sqrt{2gh_{2}[/tex]

[tex] v_{2} = \sqrt{200}[/tex]

[tex] \alpha = \frac{\sqrt{200+50}}{0.01}[/tex]


After solving all of this,I get the answer the answer as 1581.14 m/s^2,but the answer in the book is 2100 m/s^2.Am i doing anything wrong over here?
 
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You'll get the answer if you do the calculation more carefully.
An estimate, without calculator:
sqrt(50) approx. 7
sqrt(200) is 10sqrt(2)= 14 (approx.)
7+14=21
21/0.01 = 2100

Your mistake: sqrt(50)+sqrt(200) is NOT sqrt(50+200)
 
ohh...thanks nasu
 

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