Question

Consider a ball in projectile motion under gravitational force so that it is has motion in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The effects of air friction may be ignored. When the ball reaches the highest point in its trajectory, what can be said about the magnitudes of the ball's velocity and acceleration vectors? Select the correct answer

a. The horizontal components of both the velocity and acceleration are zero.
b. The magnitude of velocity is zero, but the acceleration is a constant
c. The magnitudes of both velocity and acceleration are zero
d. The magnitude of acceleration is zero but the ball has a positive velocity
e. The magnitude of velocity is at its minimum nonzero value, but the magnitude of acceleration is a constant

Answer 1

At the highest point in the ball's trajectory, the magnitude of its velocity vector is at its minimum nonzero value, while the magnitude of its acceleration vector is a constant.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the ball reaches the highest point in its trajectory, the magnitude of its velocity vector is at its minimum nonzero value, while the magnitude of its acceleration vector is a constant. Since the ball is at the highest point, it momentarily comes to rest in the vertical direction, resulting in its velocity magnitude being zero in that direction. However, the ball still has a horizontal velocity component, which is constant throughout its motion.