What Maximum Height Can a Tennis Ball Reach with Reduced Gravity?

[PerryKid]

Homework Statement

A tennis ball is thrown upward with and reaches height of 18 m. What maximum height can reach this ball on the where acceleration of free fall is 6 times less than g? In both cases initial velocity is same. [sic] (excuse my physics teacher's grammar, don't shoot the messenger! )

g= 9.81 m/s²
x= distance or displacement
v= velocity
a=acceleration (which is g)

Max Height is at V=0

Homework Equations

V=\sqrt{2gx}
ΔX=V_it + (1/2) at^2

The Attempt at a Solution

9.81/6=1.64

V^2=2(1.64)x

Initial velocity in a free fall is 0 m/s, right? If so, v=0 and then x=0

In such a case, it would be odd for the max height to be 0 m.

 

[voko]

If the ball is thrown upward, then its initial velocity cannot be zero.

Note the formulation does not require that the initial velocity be zero; it just says it is the same in both cases.

 

[PerryKid]

So, I can just use any velocity?

Or must I use a velocity that intersects?

Considering time is neither given nor required, can I use

V_f = V_i+at?

V_f=0 to find the maximum.

I use the gravities as the slope. However, the lines intersect at the origin, where time and velocity equal 0.

0 = -1.64 t

0 = -9.81 t

 

[gneill]

So, I can just use any velocity?

Or must I use a velocity that intersects?

You can find the initial velocity using your first Relevant Equation for the stated conditions that the ball reaches a height of 18 m when gravity is g.

Note that you are taking advantage of the fact that ideal free-fall trajectories are symmetric with respect to time reversal, so if a ball launched upwards with some velocity V reaches maximum height H, then a ball dropped from height H will reach a final velocity V just before impact with the ground.

 

[voko]

Does that really matter what the initial velocity is numerically? You know it is the same. That means the initial kinetic energy is the same.