Question 13 Marks
A ball is thrown from a roof top at an angle of $45^\circ$ above the horizontal. It hits the ground a few seconds later. At what point during its motion, does the ball have. Explain?
- greatest speed.
- smallest speed.
- greatest acceleration?
Answer
In this problem total mechanical energy of the ball is conserved. As the ball is projected from point $O$, and covering the path $\text{OABC}$.
At point $A$ it has both kinetic and potential energy.
But at point $C$ it have only kinetic energy, $($keeping the ground as reference where $PE$ is zero.$)$
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In this problem total mechanical energy of the ball is conserved. As the ball is projected from point $O$, and covering the path $\text{OABC}$.
At point $A$ it has both kinetic and potential energy.
But at point $C$ it have only kinetic energy, $($keeping the ground as reference where $PE$ is zero.$)$
- At point $B$, it will gain the same speed $u$ and after that speed increases and will be maximum just before reaching $C$.
- During upward journey from $O$ to $A$ speed decreases and smallest speed attained by it is at the highest point, i.e., at point $A$.
- Acceleration is always constant throughout the journey and is vertically downward equal to $g$.


As the ball has both vertical and horizontal components of velocities it’s path will be parabolic as observed by a person standing on the footpath.

According to the problem the boy standing on ground throws the ball at an angle of 60° with horizontal at a speed of 10m/ s.$\therefore$ Horizontal component of velocity, $\text{u}_\text{x}=10\cos\theta$