Bouncing ball average acceleration

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the average acceleration of a golf ball that bounces after being dropped from a height of 1.5 meters. The ball rebounds to a height of 1.1 meters, and the contact time with the floor is 6.2 x 10^-4 seconds. Participants are clarifying the correct use of variables, including initial and final velocities, and the application of relevant equations for motion under gravity. There is confusion regarding the calculation of velocities and the correct interpretation of the time of contact. The thread emphasizes the importance of understanding the direction of velocities and accurately applying the formulas to find the average acceleration.
physicsquest
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A golf ball released from a height of 1.5m above a concrete floor bounces back to a height of 1.1m. If the ball is in contact with the floor for 6.2 X 10^-4 s, what is the average acceleration of the ball while in contact with the floor?

g= 9.81 m/s^2
x-xo= -1.5
vo= 0
t= 6.2 X 10^-4

Are these variables all correct?


Homework Equations


t= ((-2(x-xo))/g)^(-1/2)
average acceleration= (v2-v1)/(t2-t1)


The Attempt at a Solution


t= ((-2(-1.5m)/(9.81m/s^2))^(1/2)= 0.55s

Do I take initial velocity divided by this time number?
And is final velocity just 1.1 divided by time?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Using the formula
vf^2 = vi^2 + 2gh, find vf when ball reaches the ground and vi when it rebounds from the ground.
Then find the change in the velocity ( be careful about the directions of the velocities). Time of contact is given. Find the average acceleration.
 
I'm still not sure what vf and vi are though. I tried dividing height by time and I used t= (-2(x-xo)/g)^1/2 to find times, but I'm still not getting the right answer.
 
physicsquest said:
I'm still not sure what vf and vi are though. I tried dividing height by time and I used t= (-2(x-xo)/g)^1/2 to find times, but I'm still not getting the right answer.
Refer the post " dropping a tennis ball " by demonelite.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top