Question

You toss a ball into the air at an initial angle of 40 degree from the horizontal.

1) At what point in the ball's trajectory does the ball have the smallest speed? (Neglect any effects due to air resistance).
a) Just after it is tossed.
b) At the highest point in its flight.
c) Just before it hits the ground.
d) Halfway between the ground and the highest point on the rise portion of the trajectory.
e) Halfway between the ground and the highest point on the fall portion of the trajectory.
2) Briefly explain your answer to the previous question. ______
3) How would your answer to the previous question change if the initial angle is doubled, i.e. if the initial angle is 80 degree?
a) It depends on the initial value of the component of the velocity in the y direction.
b) It depends on the initial value of the component of the velocity in the x direction.
c) The answer will be the same because at the highest point of the flight the speed is always the smallest regardless of the launch angle.
4) Briefly explain your answer to the previous question. ________

Answer 1

In projectile motion, the ball has the smallest speed at the highest point of its flight. This remains true regardless of the launch angle.

Step-by-step explanation:

In projectile motion, the velocity of an object changes continuously as it moves through the air. The smallest speed of the ball occurs when it reaches the highest point in its flight, which is option b) At the highest point in its flight.

At the highest point of the ball's flight, its vertical velocity component becomes zero, and the only velocity left is the horizontal component. This horizontal component remains constant throughout the entire trajectory. As a result, the ball has the smallest speed at the highest point of its flight.

If the initial angle is doubled to 80 degrees, the answer to the previous question remains the same. The speed of the ball is still the smallest at the highest point of its flight, regardless of the launch angle.