Question

You drop a 150g baseball from a sixth story window 16m above the ground. What are

(a) its kinetic energy, and
(b) its speed when it hits the ground? Neglect air resistance

Answer 1

The kinetic energy of the baseball is 0 J and the speed when it hits the ground is approximately 17.64 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the kinetic energy of the baseball when it hits the ground, we can use the equation:

KE = (1/2) * mass * velocity^2

Given that the mass of the baseball is 150g and we need to convert it to kg, the mass becomes 0.15kg. Since the baseball is dropped from rest, the initial velocity is 0. Therefore, the kinetic energy is:

KE = (1/2) * 0.15 * 0^2 = 0 J

To find the speed of the baseball when it hits the ground, we can use the equation:

speed = √(2 * gravitational acceleration * height)

Given that the height is 16m and the gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2, the speed of the baseball when it hits the ground is:

speed = √(2 * 9.8 * 16) ≈ 17.64 m/s