In this scenario, where you throw a ball into the air towards your friend 3 meters away and assuming there is no air resistance, the correct description of its velocity while it is in the air is:
The horizontal velocity remains constant, and the vertical velocity changes.
Here’s why:
-
Horizontal Velocity: In the absence of air resistance, the horizontal component of the velocity remains constant since there are no forces acting on the ball in the horizontal direction after it is thrown.
-
Vertical Velocity: The vertical component of the velocity changes due to the influence of gravity. As the ball rises, its vertical velocity decreases until it reaches the peak height, and then it increases as the ball falls back down.
So, the correct answer is that the horizontal velocity remains constant, while the vertical velocity changes.