Finding the Apex of a Thrown Ball: Does Mass Matter?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a ball thrown upward, specifically focusing on determining the apex of its trajectory. The subject area includes kinematics and the effects of mass on motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions whether the mass of the ball affects the calculations for finding the apex and seeks to understand how to use the given information about the throw to determine the apex's timing and location.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the relationship between mass and kinematic equations, with some suggesting that mass does not influence the outcome in this context. There is an ongoing inquiry into the methods for calculating the time to reach the apex and the corresponding height.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the total time of flight and the initial velocity, but the discussion does not clarify all necessary parameters for a complete solution. The focus remains on understanding the principles rather than arriving at a definitive answer.

jasonalan
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if a 2 kg ball is thrown upward at a speed of 22.2 m/s and it hits the ground after 4.10 s, can I use this information to find out when and where it is at the apex? Does the mass come into play, or is it the same for all objects?

Thanks.
 
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jasonalan said:
if a 2 kg ball is thrown upward at a speed of 22.2 m/s and it hits the ground after 4.10 s, can I use this information to find out when and where it is at the apex? Does the mass come into play, or is it the same for all objects?

Thanks.

Mass doesn't matter. It's the same for all objects. You can solve the problem purely kinematically, ie you don't use the mass at all.
 
Thanks, How would I do this?
 
jasonalan said:
Thanks, How would I do this?

You can find the time to reach the apex immediately. What do you know about the velocity at the apex?

Once you know the time to reach the apex, try to use that to find the height of the apex... there are a couple of different ways to do this.
 

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