Final answer:
The time it takes for an object thrown upward at 20 m/s to reach its maximum height is approximately 2.04 seconds, calculated using the equation t = v / g where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the time it takes for an object that's thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s to reach its maximum height. Under Earth's gravity, which pulls objects downward at 9.81 m/s², an object will continue to rise until the force of gravity decreases its upward velocity to zero. This is the point of maximum height. Using the formula t = v / g, where t is the time, v is the initial velocity, and g is the acceleration due to gravity, we can find the time to reach maximum height by rearranging the formula to t = v / g. Substituting the given values, we get t = 20 m/s / 9.81 m/s² ≈ 2.04 s. Therefore, it will take approximately 2.04 seconds for the object to reach its maximum height.