Final answer:
The time it takes for the metal ball to reach the ground is approximately 4.5 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the time it takes for the metal ball to reach the ground, we can use the formula:
d = (1/2) * g * t^2
where d is the distance (50m), g is the acceleration due to gravity (1.66m/s²), and t is the time.
Plugging in the values, we can rearrange the formula to solve for t:
t = √(2 * d / g)
t = √(2 * 50m / 1.66m/s²) ≈ 4.47s
Therefore, the correct answer is approximately 4.5s (option a).