Final answer:
The motion of a toy rocket is best described by a quadratic function due to gravity's influence on the projectile's parabolic trajectory. Launcher B at 50° will launch a ball to a greater height compared to Launcher A at 40°. The equation is consistent with projectile motion understanding and would yield a quadratic graph when plotting velocity versus height. The correct answer is a) Quadratic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The height of a toy rocket t seconds after launching is determined by a function. While different types of functions describe various forms of motion, the motion of a projectile like a toy rocket is usually best described by a quadratic function. This is because the rocket's motion is affected by gravity, which causes the height to increase and then decrease in a parabolic trajectory.
For the spring-loaded launchers question, launcher B, which is inclined at 50° above the horizontal, will fire the ball to the greatest vertical height before it crashes to the ground, given that other factors like launch velocity and air resistance are constant.
The suggested equation y = KV² sin 0 is consistent with the physical understanding of projectile motion, where V² sin 0 signifies the contribution of the initial velocity directed upwards to the height reached.
To graph the magnitude of the velocity versus vertical height for both Launchers A and B, you would expect the relationship to be quadratic for each, showing a peak at the maximum height achieved by each ball.