Question
A ball is thrown straight upward and rises to a maximum height of 16 m above its launch point. At what height above the launch point has the speed of the ball decreased to one-half of its initial value?
Answers
drwls
At the half-velocity point, the kinetic energy is 1/4 of the maximum value (because it is propotional to V^2). The other 3/4 of the initial energy must be potential energy. Therefore it has risen to 3/4 of its maximum height (12 meters). At maximum height, all energy is potential and kinetic energy is zero.
The answer would be different if the ball had not been thrown vertically.
The answer would be different if the ball had not been thrown vertically.