Calculating Average Speed of a Ball Thrown Vertically Upwards

What is the average speed of a ball thrown vertically upwards at 19.6 m/s?

Final answer: The average speed of a ball thrown vertically upwards at 19.6 m/s is approximately 19.6 m/s.

Understanding the Average Speed Calculation:

Average speed of a ball thrown vertically upwards: The average speed of a ball thrown vertically upwards can be determined by analyzing its initial velocity and the time it takes for the ball to complete its trip.

When a ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 19.6 m/s, it follows a parabolic trajectory. The average speed for the complete trip is twice the average vertical speed during the ascent.

To calculate the average vertical speed during the ascent, we need to consider the change in vertical displacement and the time taken for the ball to reach its peak height and descend back down.

Using the formula for average speed: average speed = (change in vertical displacement) / (time taken for ascent), we can determine the average vertical speed during the ascent.

The change in vertical displacement is equivalent to the maximum height reached by the ball, while the time taken for ascent can be calculated by dividing the initial vertical velocity by the acceleration due to gravity.

By substituting the values into the formula, we find that the average vertical speed during the ascent is approximately 9.8 m/s.

Therefore, the average speed of the ball for the complete trip is twice the average vertical speed during the ascent, resulting in an average speed of approximately 19.6 m/s.