SUMMARY
The problem involves calculating the initial speed of a ball thrown at an angle of 36.0° that returns to its original level in 3.00 seconds. The key to solving this is understanding the vertical motion of the ball, where the final velocity at the peak is zero. Using the equation v = u + at, where 'v' is the final velocity, 'u' is the initial vertical velocity, 'a' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 't' is half of the total time (1.5 seconds), allows for the determination of the initial vertical velocity. This vertical component can then be used to calculate the overall initial speed of the ball.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of projectile motion principles
- Knowledge of kinematic equations, specifically v = u + at
- Familiarity with vector resolution of velocities
- Basic grasp of gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)
NEXT STEPS
- Study the derivation of projectile motion equations
- Learn how to resolve vectors into horizontal and vertical components
- Explore the effects of different launch angles on projectile range
- Practice problems involving kinematic equations in two dimensions
USEFUL FOR
Students studying physics, educators teaching projectile motion, and anyone interested in solving real-world problems involving angles and initial velocities.