Question

A quarterback throws a football to a teammate. The football is 6.5ft above the ground when it leaves the quarterback's hand. His teammate catches it 3.5s later, at a height above the ground of 5 ft.

Projectile motion formula

h(t) = -16t2 + vt + h0

h0 = 6.5

v = ?

h = 5 when t = 3.5

Answer 1

You fill in the formula with the info they give you and solve for v:
5 = -16(3.5)^2 + 3.5v + 6.5 That simplifies to 5 = -196 + 3.5v + 6.5 Now simplify further by combining like terms and getting the v term by itself on one side. 194.5 = 3.5v Now divide both sides by 3.5 to get a velocity of 55.57 feet per second.