Projectile Motion: Calculating the Time until a Tennis Ball Hits the Ground

When Shiloh is using an air compressor to launch tennis balls into the air, one ball that she launches directly upward has an initial velocity of m/s. Knowing the initial vertical velocity, we can apply the equation t = 2v / g to determine how long it will take for the ball to reach the ground again after being launched.

By plugging in the given initial vertical velocity value and the standard acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), we can calculate the time of flight for the tennis ball. This time represents the duration from the moment the ball is launched until it hits the ground again.

Calculation Example:

If the initial vertical velocity of the tennis ball is 20 m/s, the calculation would be as follows:

Therefore, in this scenario, it would take approximately 4.08 seconds for the tennis ball to reach the ground after being launched vertically with an initial velocity of 20 m/s.

Understanding the principles of projectile motion and the associated equations allows us to accurately predict the behavior of objects like the tennis ball in this situation. It showcases the relationship between the initial conditions of the launch and the eventual outcome of the motion.