Average Velocity Calculation for a Baseball

Understanding Average Velocity

Average velocity is a concept used in physics to describe the rate at which an object changes its position in a given direction over a certain period of time. It is calculated by dividing the total displacement of the object by the time it took to travel that distance. In the case of the baseball being thrown by Leona to Nikki and back to Leona, we can determine the average velocity of the ball using the given data of a 10.0m eastward throw and a total flight time of 5.5s.

Calculating the Average Velocity

To calculate the average velocity of the baseball, we first need to determine the total displacement of the ball during its flight. In this scenario, the ball starts and ends with Leona, which means the displacement is zero. Using the formula for average velocity: Average Velocity = Total Displacement / Time of Travel we plug in the values: Average Velocity = 0 / 5.5 s Average Velocity = 0 m/s Therefore, the average velocity of the baseball is zero. This result indicates that the ball did not change its position in the direction from start to finish, as it returned to its original position with Leona. Overall, understanding and calculating average velocity is essential in analyzing the motion of objects and determining how their positions change over time.

Leona throws a baseball 10.0m [E] to her teammate Nikki. Nikki throws it back to Leona. The entire flight of the ball took 5.5s. What is the average velocity of the ball?

The average velocity of the ball is zero.

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