Question

Spud Webb was, at 5 ft 8 in, one of the shortest basketball players to play in the NBA. But he had an amazing vertical leap; he could jump to a height of 1.1 m off the ground, so he could easily dunk a basketball. For such a leap, what was his "hang time" - the time spent in the air after leaving the ground and before touching down again

Answer 1

The hang time is 0.95 s

Step-by-step explanation:

Spud Webb has a height of 5 feet 8 inches and is one of the shortest basketball players to play in the NBA.

He could make an amazing vertical leap of 1.1 m off the ground. For such a leap to calculate the hang time(the time spent in the air after leaving the ground and before touching down again), we use the formula:

`S=ut -(1)/(2)gt^(2)`

Where S is the distance traveled, u is the initial velocity, t is the time taken and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Given that:

g = 9.8 m/s²

S =
`y_(f) -y_(i) =0-1.1=-1.1`

u = 0

`S=ut -(1)/(2)gt^(2)`

Substituting values:

`-1.1=(0)t -(1)/(2)(9.8)t^(2)\\-1.1=0-4.9t^(2) \\-1.1=-4.9t^(2)`

Dividing through by -4.9 we get:

`(-1.1)/(-4.9) =(-4.9)/(-4.9)t^(2)`

`t^(2)=0.2245\\ t=√(0.2245)=0.474`

t = 0.474 s

The hang time = 2t = 2 × 0.474 = 0.95 s

The hang time is 0.95 s