Understanding Ball Motion: Initial Position, Velocity, and Acceleration

Understanding Ball Motion

Initial Position: The initial position of an object refers to its location at the starting point of the motion. In this case, the initial position of the ball is determined by the position equation x=(5.5m/s)t+(−9m/s^2)t^2. By setting t=0, we find that the ball starts at 0 meters.

Initial Velocity: The initial velocity of the ball is the speed and direction at which the ball starts moving. It is found by taking the derivative of the position equation with respect to time. The initial velocity of 5.5 m/s is determined by the given equation.

Acceleration: The acceleration of the ball is a crucial factor in determining its motion. It is given by the coefficient of the t^2 term in the position equation, which in this case is -9 m/s^2, depicting the effect of gravity on the ball.

Average Velocity: The average velocity of the ball over a specific time interval is calculated by dividing the displacement during that interval by the duration. For t=0 to t=1.0s, the ball has an average velocity of -3.5 m/s, indicating its speed and direction over that period.

Average Speed: Unlike velocity, speed is a scalar quantity representing the magnitude of velocity without considering direction. The average speed of the ball between t=1.0s and t=2.0s is found to be 7.0 m/s, reflecting the total distance covered during that interval.