Final answer:
To find the height an iPad will reach when thrown upwards with an initial velocity, convert the velocity to meters per second and utilize the equation h = v² / (2g), where v is the initial vertical velocity and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the height to which Rex's brother's iPad will rise above its initial height after being thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity, we can use the principles of kinematics under the acceleration due to gravity. As the iPad rises, it will slow down under the influence of gravity until its velocity reaches zero at the peak height. At this point, all of the initial kinetic energy has been converted to gravitational potential energy.
We start by converting the initial velocity from meters per hour to meters per second since the standard unit for velocity in the International System of Units (SI) is meters per second (m/s). Given that 1 hour is equal to 3600 seconds, the initial velocity (vi) in m/s is found by dividing the velocity in m/hr by 3600.
Using the kinetic energy and potential energy equivalence and the equation of motion for constant acceleration, we arrive at the formula h = v² / (2g), where h is the maximum height, v is the initial vertical velocity, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² downward). It's important to note that the acceleration due to gravity is considered negative in this context because it opposes the initial upward motion of the iPad.
Substituting the given initial velocity and acceleration due to gravity into the formula, we calculate the maximum height reached by the iPad before it begins its descent.