Final answer:
The ball will travel a horizontal distance of 0 meters before hitting the ground immediately after being launched.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the distance the ball will travel horizontally, we need to analyze the horizontal and vertical components of its motion separately. Since the initial velocity of the ball is 4.00 m/s and it is launched at an angle of 30°, the horizontal component of its velocity can be found using the equation:
Vx = V * cos(θ)
where V is the initial velocity and θ is the launch angle. Plugging in the values, we have:
Vx = 4.00 m/s * cos(30°) = 4.00 m/s * 0.866 = 3.464 m/s
The time it takes for the ball to hit the ground can be found using the vertical motion equation:
y = Vy * t + 0.5 * g * t^2
Where y is the initial height (1.2 m), Vy is the vertical component of initial velocity, t is the time, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (-9.8 m/s^2). Set y equal to 0 and solve for t:
0 = Vy * t + 0.5 * g * t^2
Since the ball is initially launched horizontally, Vy is 0. Plugging in the values, we have:
0 = 0 + 0.5 * (-9.8 m/s^2) * t^2
simplifying the equation gives:
t = sqrt(0 / (-4.9 m/s^2)) = 0
Since the time is 0, the ball hits the ground immediately after it is launched. Therefore, the horizontal distance it travels is:
Distance = Vx * t
Plugging in the values, we have:
Distance = 3.464 m/s * 0 s = 0 m