A marker is rolled horizontally off the top of a table. after 5 econds the marker lands on the ground with a final velocity of -2.5 m/s which kinematic equation would be most useful for finding the balls initial velocity (Assume a=-9.8 m/s^2)

v=v_0+a(delta)t
(delta)x=(v+v_0/2) (delta)t
(delta)x=v_0(delta)t+1/2a((delta)t)^2
v^2=v_0^2+2a(delta)x
(delta)x=v(delta)t-1/2a((delta)t)^2

1 answer

The most useful kinematic equation for finding the ball's initial velocity in this scenario would be:

(delta)x = v₀(delta)t + 1/2a((delta)t)²

This equation relates the displacement (delta)x (which in this case is the distance the marker falls from the top of the table to the ground), the initial velocity v₀, the acceleration a, and the time interval (delta)t.