Jake serves a volleyball with an initial velocity of 32 feet per second from 4.5 feet above the ground at an angle 0f 35 degrees.

Question

a) Write parametric equations to model the situation.
h(t) = -16t^2 + 32t + 4.5
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b) How long will the ball travel before it hits the ground?
Solve -16t^2+32t+4.5 = 0
t = 2.13 seconds
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Answer 1

parametric equations would be

x = (32 cos 35°) t
y = 4.5 + (32 sin 35°)t - 16t^2

solve for t when y=0

4.5+32t-16t^2 is valid only if the ball is hit straight up.

Answer 2

y(t) = -16 t^2 + 32 sin 35 t + 4.5
x = 32 cos 35