An object is thrown vertically upward.
a) What are its velocity and acceleration when it reaches its highest altitude?
b) What is its acceleration on its way downward half a meter above the ground?
My ans:
a) velocity is zero and acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2
b) i am not sure but i think acceleration should still be 9.8m/s^2
a) acceleration is Downward,g
b) Correct, 9.8m/s^2 downward
You are correct for part a). When the object reaches its highest altitude, its velocity is indeed zero and the acceleration is equal to the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.
For part b), the situation is slightly different. On its way downward, half a meter above the ground, the object is still affected by gravity and continues to accelerate towards the ground. However, the acceleration will be slightly different than 9.8 m/s^2. To determine the acceleration at this point, we need to take into account the concept of free fall and the effect of air resistance.
Air resistance, also known as drag, becomes more significant as the object moves faster through the air. At higher velocities, the force of air resistance opposes the motion and reduces the net acceleration. As the object descends close to the ground, it may not have reached a very high velocity, so the effect of air resistance is relatively small. In this case, the acceleration can still be considered as approximately 9.8 m/s^2.
However, it's important to note that in reality, the acceleration due to gravity and the effect of air resistance can vary depending on the specific circumstances such as the shape, size, and mass of the object, as well as the density of the surrounding air. To get a more precise answer, it would require detailed measurements and calculations based on those specific factors.