An athlete throws a basketball through a hoop. The ball leaves his hands at a height of 2.5 m with a speed of 9.0 m/s. Calculate the speed of the ball when it “swishes” through the hoop. The hoop is at a height of 3.0 m and it is 5.0 m along the court from the basketball player.

Question

An athlete throws a basketball through a hoop.  The ball leaves his hands at a height of 2.5 m with a speed of 9.0 m/s. Calculate the speed of the ball when it “swishes” through the hoop. The hoop is at a height of 3.0 m and it is 5.0 m along the court from the basketball player.

bobpursley · Answer

It is pretty easy... consider energy. The ball has an initial KE, and initial PE. The ball has a final PE you know, so calculate the final KE. Intialtotalenergy= final PE+finalKE

Anonymous · Answer

I tried the method listed above but it is different from the answer given in the textbook. I hope the textbook is wrong!