Question

Baseball player A bunts the ball by hitting it in such a way that it acquires an initial velocity of 1.3 m/s parallel to the ground. Upon contact with the bat, the ball is 1 m above the ground. Payer B wishes to duplicate this bunt, in so far as he also wants to give the ball a velocity parallel to the ground and have his ball travel the same horizontal distance as player A's ball does. However, player B hits the ball when it is 1.8 m above the ground. What is the magnitude of the initial velocity that player B's ball must be given?

Does anyone know how to do this problem? I am very confused

Answer 1

First you need to solve for time by using

d=(1/2)(a)(t^2)+(vi)t
1m=(1/2)(9.8)t^2 vertical initial velocity is 0m/s
t=.45 sec

Then you find the horizontal distance traveled by using

v=d/t
1.3m/s=d/.54sec
d=.585m

Then you need to find the time of player B by using

d=(1/2)(a)(t^2)+(vi)t
1.8m=(1/2)(9.8)(t^2) vertical initial velocity is 0
t=.61 sec

Finally to find player Bs initial horizontal velocity you use the horizontal equation

v=d/t
v=.585m/.61 sec

so v=.959m/s