Final answer:
To answer the student's question about projectile motion, the initial speed can be calculated using the motion equations, and the time of flight can be derived using the initial velocity and gravitational acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the speed the ball was tossed, we need to calculate the initial velocity required to reach a height of 33.5 meters. Using the equation for the vertical motion of a projectile (v^2 = u^2 + 2as), where v is the final velocity (0 m/s at the highest point), u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration due to gravity (-9.81 m/s^2), and s is the displacement (33.5 m), we can solve for the initial velocity u. Rearranging the equation, we get u = sqrt(v^2 - 2as) = sqrt(0 - 2*(-9.81)*33.5). Calculating this gives us the initial velocity.
To find out how long it's in the air, we use the time of flight equation for a projectile that reaches a certain height (t = (2u) / g), where g is the gravitational acceleration. Solving this using the previously calculated initial velocity gives us the time the ball is in the air.