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A batted softball leaves the bat with an initial velocity of 44 meters per second at an angle of 37 above

horizontal. What is the magnitude of the initial vertical component of the softball's velocity?

User Severino
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Final answer:

The magnitude of the initial vertical component of the softball's velocity, when hit at a 37-degree angle with an initial velocity of 44 m/s, is approximately 26.48 m/s. This is calculated using the sine function of the angle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves calculating the initial vertical component of a softball's velocity when it is batted at an angle to the horizontal. This is a physics problem dealing with projectile motion, specifically the separation of initial velocity into its horizontal and vertical components.

The initial velocity (V) given is 44 meters per second and the angle (θ) above the horizontal is 37 degrees. We can calculate the vertical component (Vy) using the sine function since the vertical component is opposite the angle in a right-angled triangle.

The formula to calculate the vertical component of velocity is:
Vy = V * sin(θ)
Plugging in the values:
Vy = 44 m/s * sin(37°). Assuming sin(37°) is approximately 0.6018,
Vy ≈ 44 m/s * 0.6018

≈ 26.48 m/s.
Therefore, the magnitude of the initial vertical component of the softball's velocity is approximately 26.48 meters per second.

User Giankotarola
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