Do I just put in 3 for t?

A ball is dropped from a tower 550 meters above the ground with position function s(t) = 4.9t2 + 550.
What is the velocity of the ball after 3 seconds?

3 answers

supposed to be a 4.9t^2+550
no, s(t) is the position function. You want the velocity, which is

ds/dt = -9.8t

then you can sub in t=3.

And, since the ball is falling,

s(t) = -4.9t^2 + 550
so would the velocity be -29.4?